Surgeons Warn of Risks Linked to Medical Tourism for Surgery

Concerns are rising over the increasing number of New Zealanders seeking overseas surgeries, often leading to serious complications upon their return. Many individuals travel to countries like Turkey, Thailand, and India for procedures such as weight loss surgery, knee replacements, and cosmetic enhancements, attracted by significantly lower costs. The issue has come to the forefront as local surgeons highlight the dangers associated with these so-called medical tourism practices.

According to Dr Rowan French, a bariatric surgeon based in New Zealand, there is an urgent need for more publicly funded surgical procedures to dissuade patients from risking their health abroad. Currently, New Zealand performs approximately 500 bariatric surgeries each year through the public system, but the criteria for eligibility are stringent. Patients seeking private options face costs that can be three times higher than those in popular medical tourism destinations.

Surgeons in New Zealand have reported an alarming increase in complications related to these overseas surgeries, particularly in the past nine to twelve months. Dr French explained to RNZ’s Checkpoint that they have encountered issues such as staple line leaks, which can occur in any surgical setting but have become noticeably more frequent among patients returning from abroad.

One troubling case involved a patient who was supposed to receive a conversion from a gastric sleeve to a gastric bypass but instead underwent a completely different procedure that joined a loop of bowel to their gastric sleeve. Such errors are indicative of the potential risks patients face when opting for cheaper surgical options overseas.

Dr French noted that many patients return with complications that lead to severe health issues, including obstructions caused by improper surgical techniques. These patients often experience significant distress, only to be misdiagnosed with travel-related illnesses and sent home, where they require immediate medical attention.

“Typically, they end up in the hospital as soon as they get back,” Dr French stated. He recounted a recent incident where two patients arrived home, one of whom was close to death due to a serious staple line leak. The situation raises concerns about the overall safety of overseas surgeries, especially when complications like sepsis, which can take months to resolve, arise.

While it is challenging to ascertain the exact number of complications or fatalities resulting from these procedures, Dr French expressed concern that some patients have not survived due to poorly performed surgeries. He mentioned a colleague whose relative died after developing sepsis following an operation abroad.

Patients suffering from complications often lack insurance coverage for overseas procedures, placing an additional burden on the public health system. Dr French explained that addressing these complications can involve multiple surgeries, costing around $100,000 to rectify the issues caused by foreign medical practices. This burden disproportionately affects patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, who may have less health literacy and thus face greater risks.

“ACC cover does not apply to these patients,” Dr French pointed out, highlighting a significant gap in support for those affected by overseas surgeries. The public health system is left to shoulder the responsibility of treating these complications, further straining resources.

Dr French emphasized that while the percentage of patients returning with complications may be low, the risks associated with overseas surgeries are substantial. Effective surgery involves more than just the procedure; it requires proper preparation and follow-up care, which many overseas patients do not receive. He indicated that the likelihood of maintaining weight loss beyond a few years without adequate support is probably less than 10 percent.

To address this growing issue, Dr French advocates for increased funding for bariatric surgeries within New Zealand. Currently, he is limited to performing 50 surgeries annually but believes he could safely conduct at least 50 more if funding were available. Each procedure costs approximately $20,000.

“We need to keep advocating for better public health measures to tackle the problem at the source,” Dr French stated. He warned that if the trend of medical tourism continues unchecked, driven largely by social media and influencers, the public health system will bear the financial and health-related consequences of these risky decisions.