SUMMER 2025 DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 40
GPSJ
NHS & HEALTHCARE
A call for action on unregulated medical
tourism: Protecting UK patients and
the NHS
Since the early 2000s, the
global medical tourism
industry has grown at a
remarkable pace. Once
accessed by the wealthy
seeking luxury treatments
abroad, it is now a mainstream
option for many UK citizens
- particularly in the 昀椀eld of
elective cosmetic procedures
such as breast implants, dental
veneers, and hair transplants.
Lower costs, faster treatment
timelines, and glossy
marketing campaigns have
driven a surge in outbound
medical travel. According
to the O昀케ce for National
Statistics (ONS), 431,000 UK
residents travelled abroad for
medical treatment in 2023 - an
increase of more than 180%
since 2016.
But while the demand for
overseas cosmetic treatment is
rising, so too are the risks. Behind
the allure of cheap procedures
lies a growing and dangerous
regulatory gap - one that
threatens individual patient safety
and places a growing burden on
the NHS.
The current absence of a
UK-speci昀椀c regulatory framework
for outbound medical tourism
means individuals are often
left exposed to poor clinical
standards, inadequate preoperative assessments, insu昀케cient
insurance coverage, and minimal
- if any - aftercare upon returning
home. In far too many cases, UK
patients are receiving treatment
from unveri昀椀ed clinics abroad
that fail to meet basic standards
of care. The consequences are
serious and sometimes fatal.
During a parliamentary debate
in March 2024, it was revealed
that at least 28 UK citizens had
died after undergoing cosmetic
procedures in Turkey between
40
2019 and 2024. These tragic
outcomes are not isolated
incidents. Complications
range from infected wounds
and thrombosis to sepsis and
life-threatening surgical failures
- all of which frequently require
emergency NHS intervention.
We must be clear: the problem
is not international healthcare
itself. Many overseas providers
like Longevita deliver high-quality
treatment, and patients have the
right to seek care across borders.
But the lack of coordinated,
enforceable regulation for UK
medical tourists has created a
vacuum - one in which unquali昀椀ed
clinics, misleading advertising, and
unsafe practices can thrive.
To address this growing issue,
I have written a White Paper
which proposes a robust 昀椀ve-pillar
framework to protect UK patients
and reduce the cost to the NHS.
At the heart of this plan is the
creation of an independent UK
Medical Tourism Accreditation
Association (UKMTAA), a
regulatory body that would
oversee, accredit, and monitor
international providers marketing
to UK patients.
The UKMTAA would introduce
a national accreditation system for
overseas clinics o昀昀ering services
to UK consumers. This would
establish clear clinical governance,
safety protocols, transparency
requirements, and continuity of
care. Providers that meet these
standards would be eligible for
UKMTAA certi昀椀cation, allowing
patients to identify reputable
clinics and avoid unsafe or
unscrupulous operators.
In addition to accreditation, the
White Paper calls for mandatory
medical tourism insurance for
UK patients travelling abroad for
treatment. At present, patients
often rely on basic travel insurance
or no insurance at all - leaving
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL SUMMER 2025
them unprotected if complications
arise. Statutory insurance would
ensure coverage for surgical
risks, emergency repatriation,
and essential post-operative
care, reducing pressure on NHS
resources.
Another critical element of
the proposed framework is the
introduction of a UK-based
aftercare pathway. Many overseas
clinics discharge patients
within 24 - 48 hours of surgery,
leaving them with little support
if complications develop. An
integrated system that connects
returning patients to domestic
healthcare providers would enable
earlier intervention, reducing the
risk of escalation and long-term
recovery needs. This would also
provide much-needed clarity for
NHS clinicians managing overseas
complications, who currently
face fragmented and inconsistent
information from una昀케liated
providers.
The White Paper also calls for
stricter advertising standards.
Social media, in昀氀uencer
endorsements and unregulated
online platforms have become
the primary marketing channels
for overseas cosmetic clinics.
Many adverts promote unrealistic
results, conceal risks, and present
misleading pricing structures.
This must change. The UK
should work with the Advertising
Standards Authority (ASA) and the
Care Quality Commission (CQC) to
create advertising regulations for
medical tourism that mirror those
in place for domestic healthcare
marketing. Clinics should be
required to disclose outcomes
data, sta昀昀 credentials, and the
risks of procedures as part of any
promotional activity.
Finally, a national campaign to
educate the public about the risks
and responsibilities associated
with medical tourism is urgently
needed. Patients deserve to make
informed choices about their care.
This includes understanding the
importance of checking provider
credentials, seeking proper
insurance, and planning for
aftercare.
The current unregulated
environment for UK citizens
seeking cosmetic procedures
abroad poses unacceptable
risks to both individuals and the
NHS. By introducing a national
accreditation body, mandatory
insurance, coordinated aftercare,
tighter advertising rules, and
better public education, we can
ensure safer outcomes, preserve
NHS resources, and foster a
more transparent international
healthcare market.
Medical tourism is here to
stay. But it must be made
safe, accountable, and fair. As
Parliamentarians, you have the
power - and the responsibility - to
legislate for the protection of UK
patients, and to ensure that the
pursuit of a昀昀ordability does not
come at the cost of lives.
For more information and
to access the White Paper –
Cutting It Fine, visit https://
www.longevita.co.uk/guides/
regulating-medical-tourism/
Kagan Seymenoglu
