Europe introduces stricter safety standards for bariatric and metabolic surgery in medical tourism, ensuring accredited centers, patient care, and surgeon qualifications.
A panel of European healthcare experts and obesity patients has issued comprehensive recommendations to enhance the safety and effectiveness of bariatric and metabolic surgery medical tourism (BMT). These recommendations, published in the International Journal of Surgery, aim to establish clinical guidelines to protect patients undergoing weight-loss surgery abroad.
BMT has grown in popularity as people seek cost-effective obesity treatments in foreign countries. However, concerns over surgical safety, inadequate post-operative care, and fraudulent practices have led to the need for standardized regulations.
Ensuring High Standards in Bariatric Surgery Abroad
To address rising concerns, the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) collaborated with the International Federation for Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders-European Chapter and the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity. Their goal was to define best practices and ensure patient safety in BMT.
A task force comprising two expert panels from 26 European countries reviewed 135 key aspects of bariatric surgery, patient evaluation, operative care, and post-surgical management.
Key Safety Guidelines for BMT:
- Accredited Surgical Centers Only
- Procedures should be performed exclusively at accredited medical centers meeting national and international standards.
- Surgeons must hold valid accreditation and conduct a minimum of 50 bariatric procedures annually.
- New or experimental surgical techniques should not be performed within medical tourism settings.
- Comprehensive Preoperative Evaluations
- Patients must undergo thorough medical screenings, including assessments for:
- Psychological health
- Sleep apnea
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Liver function
- Dietary habits
- Patients must undergo thorough medical screenings, including assessments for:
- Patient Education & Informed Consent
- Patients should receive detailed explanations of surgical risks and benefits, particularly the added risks of undergoing surgery abroad.
- Written and verbal informed consent must be obtained before any procedure.
- Postoperative Care & Follow-Up
- Patients must remain under medical supervision until any complications are resolved.
- The surgical facility must provide at least two years of follow-up care post-surgery.
- Regulating Medical Tourism Advertisements
- Transparency in advertising is crucial, ensuring patients receive honest, accurate information about procedures, risks, and expected outcomes.
- Clinics must disclose surgeon credentials and treatment success rates.
Filling the Gaps in BMT Data
Currently, limited quantitative data exists on the long-term outcomes of BMT procedures. The expert panel’s consensus recommendations act as a guideline for healthcare professionals while further clinical data is collected.
These regulations mark a significant step forward in making medical tourism safer for patients seeking obesity treatments abroad. By ensuring rigorous accreditation, comprehensive patient care, and transparent information, Europe is setting new global standards for the industry.
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