Why a checklist, not just marketing
Medical tourism has grown quickly, and not every provider markets itself as carefully as it should. Before booking any procedure abroad, it's worth working through a short checklist rather than relying on a clinic's own marketing.
Accreditation and credentials
Is the hospital internationally accredited? Look specifically for JCI, or an equivalent recognized body — not just an ISO 9001 certificate, which covers quality management processes but not clinical care standards directly.
Can you verify the treating doctor's credentials independently? A reputable clinic will readily share a surgeon's qualifications, board certifications, and where they trained — and won't discourage you from checking them elsewhere.
Pricing and complications
Is pricing transparent and itemized before you travel? Vague quotes or pressure to pay a large deposit before you've seen a written breakdown are both red flags.
What happens if something goes wrong? Ask specifically about the clinic's complication rate for your procedure if available, and what its policy is for follow-up care if you need it after returning home.
Who's coordinating your care
Who is coordinating your care, and who pays them? A coordinator paid by the clinic only when you book — not by you, and not on commission per upsell — has aligned incentives. One who pressures you toward a specific, more expensive package is worth questioning.
Hospigo's vetting process — JCI accreditation as a baseline, plus doctor credential checks, outcome data review and direct verification calls — is built to answer exactly these questions before a clinic is ever listed on our platform.