Guide to Safely Choosing a Clinic for Medical Tourism

A Professional Overview prepared by us, in order to advocate the safety of medical tourism for you.

Medical tourism offers access to quality healthcare at lower costs, but choosing the right clinic is critical to ensuring your safety and treatment success. This short guide outlines key factors for selecting a reputable and safe medical tourism clinic. At our platform we carefully select only the best and accredited clinics and post the accreditation certificates along, so everything can be easily checked. If you do research on your own please make sure to make your due diligence and follow the 7 steps outlined below.

1. Verify Accreditation and Licensing

Accreditation ensures clinics meet international safety and quality standards. Below are major agencies and regulatory bodies by region:

🇬🇧 United Kingdom:

Care Quality Commission (CQC) – Regulates and inspects health and social care services.
Website: https://www.cqc.org.uk

🇪🇬 Egypt

General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR) Arabic: الهيئة العامة للاعتماد والرقابة الصحية responsible for setting national healthcare quality and patient safety standards in Egypt. It accredits hospitals and clinics across both public and private sectors, especially under the Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS).
Website: https://www.gahar.gov.eg

🇬🇧 United Kingdom:

SaveFace UK – A government-backed, accredited register for non-surgical cosmetic practitioners (e.g., Botox, fillers), ensuring ethical, safe, and qualified treatment.Website: https://www.saveface.co.uk/

🇯🇵 Japan:

Japan Medical Services Accreditation for International Patients (JMIP) – Focuses on improving care for international patients.

Website: https://www.jmip.or.jp

Japan Council for Quality Health Care (JCQHC)

Website: https://www.jcqhc.or.jp

By law Turkish clinics ready for foreign patients have to have the accreditation below, mandatory and should be visible on the website.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom:

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) – Regulates fertility clinics and ensures they meet rigorous UK standards.Website: https://www.hfea.gov.uk

🇹🇷Turkey:

Health Services General Directorate – Ministry of Health & International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate – Clinics must meet national and international standards.

Website: https://shgm.saglik.gov.tr

TÜRKAK – Turkish Accreditation Agency

Website: https://www.turkak.org.tr

Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation (KOHIA) – Oversees hospital certification and medical service quality.
Website: https://www.koiha.or.kr

🇰🇷South Korea:

🇦🇹 Austria

Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria AQ Austria
Website: http://www.aq.ac.at

🇭🇷 Croatia

Agency: Croatian Accreditation Agency (HAA)
Website: https://www.akreditacija.hr

🇩🇰 Denmark

Agency: Danish Institute for Quality and Accreditation in Health Care (IKAS)
Website: https://www.ikas.dk

European Union is normally using ISO or ilac accreditation bodies and additionally
EU & EEA Healthcare Accreditation Bodies by Country

🇧🇪 Belgium

Agency: Flemish Care Inspectorate (Zorginspectie)
Website: https://www.zorginspectie.be

🇨🇾 Cyprus

gency: Cyprus Organization for the Promotion of Quality (CYS-CYSAB)
Website: https://www.cys.mcit.gov.cy

🇪🇪 Estonia

Agency: Estonian Health Board
Website: https://www.terviseamet.ee

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Agency: Ministry of Health Executive Agency Medical Supervision
Website: https://iamn.bg/en/

🇨🇿 Czech Republic

Agency: Czech Accreditation Institute (CAI)
Website: https://www.cai.cz

🇫🇮 Finland

Agency: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
Website: https://www.thl.fi

🇫🇷 France

Agency: Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS)
Website: https://www.has-sante.fr

🇮🇸 Iceland

Agency: Directorate of Health (Landlæknisembættið)
Website: https://www.landlaeknir.is

🇱🇻 Latvia

Agency: Health Inspectorate of Latvia
Website: https://www.vi.gov.lv/en

🇩🇪 Germany

Agency: Cooperation for Transparency and Quality in Hospitals (KTQ)
Website: https://www.ktq.de

🇮🇪 Ireland

Agency: Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)
Website: https://www.hiqa.ie

🇱🇹 Lithuania

Agency: State Medical Audit Inspectorate
Website: https://www.vmai.lt

🇬🇷 Greece

Agency: National Organization for Medicines (EOF)
Website: https://www.eof.gr

🇮🇹 Italy

Agency: National Agency for Regional Health Services (AGENAS)
Website: https://www.agenas.gov.it

🇱🇺 Luxembourg

Agency: Ministry of HealthWebsite: https://m3s.gouvernement.lu/en.html

🇲🇹 Malta

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Agency: Department for Social Welfare Standards (DSWS)Website: https://www.dsws.gov.mt

Agency: Health Care Inspectorate (IGJ)

Website: https://www.igj.nl

🇳🇴 Norway

Agency: Norwegian Directorate of Health

Website: https://www.helsedirektoratet.no

🇵🇹 Portugal

Agency: Portuguese Health Regulatory Authority (ERS)
Website: https://www.ers.pt

🇸🇮 Slovenia

Agency: Health Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia (HI)Website: https://www.gov.si/en/state-authorities/bodies-within-ministries/health-inspectorate/

🇷🇴 Romania

Agency: National Authority for Quality Management in Health (ANMCS)
Website: https://anmcs.gov.ro/en/

🇪🇸 Spain

Agency: National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA)Website: https://www.aneca.es

🇸🇰 Slovakia

Agency: Slovak National Accreditation Service (SNAS)
Website: https://www.snas.sk

🇸🇪 Sweden

Agency: Swedish Health and Social Care Inspectorate (IVO)Website: https://www.ivo.se

2. Research Medical Staff Credentials

Look into the doctors’ board certifications, medical training, and international experience. Reputable clinics will share full professional bios upon request or on their websites.

3. Review Patient Testimonials and Case Studies

Check verified patient reviews through trusted platforms or ask the clinic for real case studies with patient permission.

4. Evaluate Communication and Transparency

Trustworthy clinics clearly explain procedures, pricing, timelines, and risks. Ensure you receive a written treatment plan and consent forms before travel.

5. Assess Facility Standards

Modern facilities with international hygiene protocols, multilingual staff, and advanced technology are signs of a high-quality clinic. Use virtual tours if available.

6. Consider Legal and Insurance Protections

Learn about local patient rights and malpractice regulations. Ask the clinic if it provides medical liability coverage and if your insurance covers treatment abroad.

Guide to Safely Choosing a Clinic for Medical Tourism

A Professional Overview prepared by us, in order to advocate the safety of medical tourism for you.

1. Verify Accreditation and Licensing

2. Research Medical Staff Credentials

Look into the doctors’ board certifications, medical training, and international experience. Reputable clinics will share full professional bios upon request or on their websites.

3. Review Patient Testimonials and Case Studies

Check verified patient reviews through trusted platforms or ask the clinic for real case studies with patient permission.

4. Evaluate Communication and Transparency

Trustworthy clinics clearly explain procedures, pricing, timelines, and risks. Ensure you receive a written treatment plan and consent forms before travel.

5. Assess Facility Standards

Modern facilities with international hygiene protocols, multilingual staff, and advanced technology are signs of a high-quality clinic. Use virtual tours if available.

6. Consider Legal and Insurance Protections

Learn about local patient rights and malpractice regulations. Ask the clinic if it provides medical liability coverage and if your insurance covers treatment abroad.

7. Plan for Post-Treatment Support

Check if the clinic offers post-op care, virtual follow-ups, or collaboration with your local physician to ensure safe recovery.

Guide to Safely Choosing a Clinic for Medical Tourism

A Professional Overview prepared by us, in order to advocate the safety of medical tourism for you.

1. Verify Accreditation and Licensing

​2. Research Medical Staff Credentials

Look into the doctors’ board certifications, medical training, and international experience. Reputable clinics will share full professional bios upon request or on their websites.

3. Review Patient Testimonials and Case Studies

Check verified patient reviews through trusted platforms or ask the clinic for real case studies with patient permission.

​4. Evaluate Communication and Transparency

Trustworthy clinics clearly explain procedures, pricing, timelines, and risks. Ensure you receive a written treatment plan and consent forms before travel.

​5. Assess Facility Standards

Modern facilities with international hygiene protocols, multilingual staff, and advanced technology are signs of a high-quality clinic. Use virtual tours if available.

​6. Consider Legal and Insurance Protections

Learn about local patient rights and malpractice regulations. Ask the clinic if it provides medical liability coverage and if your insurance covers treatment abroad.​

7. Plan for Post-Treatment Support

Check if the clinic offers post-op care, virtual follow-ups, or collaboration with your local physician to ensure safe recovery.

2. Research Medical Staff Credentials

4. Evaluate Communication and Transparency

5. Assess Facility Standards

6. Consider Legal and Insurance Protections

Learn about local patient rights and malpractice regulations. Ask the clinic if it provides medical liability coverage and if your insurance covers treatment abroad.