Perhaps it’s because Finland topped the World Happiness Report in 2018, based on factors such as freedom, honesty, welfare, good health and generosity, that medical tourism to the northern European republic is rising.
Finland also has a well-earned reputation for safety and stability, but of course there’s more to it than that—the results achieved by Finnish healthcare are world class, particularly in areas such as decreasing cancer mortality.
Finnish research groups have contributed to many breakthroughs in diagnostics, cancer treatment and prevention, cardiovascular diseases and neurological conditions. Finnish healthcare is based on early detection, prevention and universal provision, and Finland has a long tradition of receiving overseas patients.
Diagnostic Services in Finland
Health-care visitors to Finland are particularly interested in diagnostic services, fertility treatment and perinatal care, as well as dental care. Other areas of interest are oncology, cardiac and vascular diseases, bone and orthopaedic surgery, as well as rehabilitation.
Päivi Antila, project manager, Health Tourism Finland, says: “Finnish private hospitals and clinics are very competitive in cancer treatment, a variety of demanding surgeries such as spinal surgeries, as well as orthopaedics and sports medicine. We see the potential to receive a much bigger number of (visiting) patients in the coming years.”
Famous Finnish clinics include Hospital NEO, for orthopaedics and sports medicine, made famous by surgeon Sakari Orava, who has completed over 20,000 procedures, and was head physician for the Finnish Summer Olympics team between 1988 and 2000.
Service Packages
It’s common for medical tourism facilitators in Finland to provide full service packages to their customers, including transportation and accommodation. Alternatively, clinics will often recommend nearby partner hotels in their vicinity.
Clearly, Finns love the health-giving aspects of the sauna—there are 3m in the country—and trends such as Sauna Yoga and Sauna Pilates can deliver a sense of well-being. But Applied Sauna Yoga is also a significant treatment option for conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic joint pain.
Attractions in Finland
Of course, the cool summers and snowy winters of Finland, which has 70 percent forest coverage, present enjoyable attractions for the tourist, including the country’s 188,000 lakes, Northern Light spotting, famous midnight sun, trips by dog-mushing or snowmobile and other outdoor adventures.
The seaside capital Helsinki, well served by the nearby international airport in Vantaa, is justly famed for its restaurants, saunas, neoclassical buildings, design galleries and the nearby medieval town of Porvoo.
For this and many other reasons the Finns are said to be the happiest people in the world and Finland the ideal place to enhance your physical and spiritual well-being.
See Also:
An Intro To Health Tourism
