How to Make the Right Decision on your Overseas Treatment

12 Must-Ask Questions on your "Medical Tourist Checklist"

The international market is growing rapidly for what's known as "medical tourism" - the business of flying patients into hospitals in Asia, India and Europe to receive treatments at much lower costs than at home (if the treatment is even available there). While it's terrific that patients have more treatment choices - and that people of ordinary financial means can afford them - it can be a very confusing market for the layperson. You have a right and responsibility to yourself and your loved ones, to ask as many questions as you like to the health care providers who want your business. To help you find your way through the medical marketplace, we've created the following checklist of questions to ask; they should be useful no matter what your medical condition or the type of treatment you want to learn more about.

Is there any proof (published results) that the treatment works?

Can I speak with patients who have taken this treatment?

How is the treatment different/better than other comparable treatments out there?

Will my doctor be involved in the treatment?

Who are the medical professionals administering the treatment overseas?

How long has the organization been offering the treatment, and how many people have they treated?

What are the facilities like? (medical, accommodation)

How safe is the treatment?

Is the treatment painful?

How long must I stay overseas?

Is my personal safety be assured? How will I, and any family/friends traveling with me, be treated?

Why does the treatment cost what it does?

Print out this checklist for your next treatment comparison! Click here to download the list as a printable PDF.

How VesCell Adult Stem Cell Therapy Measures Against the "Medical Tourist Checklist"

1. Is there any medical proof that the treatment works?

Yes, plenty of proof going back years. For example, clinical studies reveal that within three months of treatment, about 75% of VesCell patients experience substantial improvements in the quality of their lives: fewer breathing problems, fewer chest pains, increased mobility, less fatigue, more energy. Longer term: more than 90% of VesCell patients treated two years ago are still going strong!

The VesCell adult stem cell treatment has been featured in leading medical journals around the world, and statistical evidence of the effectiveness and safety of the treatment has been presented to the American Heart Association.

VesCell is... the best commercially available stem cell-based treatment for no-option cardiac patients."
- Regenerative Medicine Magazine

TheraVitae Co., Ltd., the makers of VesCell adult stem cell therapy, has been recognized as a "Tech Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum.

2. Can I speak with patients who have undergone this treatment?

Yes, more than 30 unpaid VesCell patients (mostly Americans) are happy to talk to you - by email or phone - about their own experiences and results in the quality of their lives.

3. Will my doctor be involved in the treatment?

TheraVitae Co. Ltd, makers of VesCell adult stem cell therapy, will pay up to $2,000 towards your doctor's air fare to Thailand, and pay for 5 nights' hotel accommodation, so that your physician is beside you during the VesCell adult stem cell treatment process.

All physicians working with VesCell want a team effort with the patient's family physicians/specialists; this is a critical point for our professional staff and for the physicians operating in Thailand. All patient records and other information is shared between your home doctor and the physicians giving the VesCell treatment.

4. How long has the organization been offering the treatment? How many people have they treated?

Since Jan. 2005, more than 300 patients have been treated with VesCell adult stem cell therapy. (75% of them have experienced improved quality of life within three months of treatment.)

5. How is the treatment different/better than other comparable treatments out there?

VesCell is the only therapy that offers stem cell treatment using a patient's own blood. This means there is no risk of rejection by your body, and it is a painless procedure - unlike bone marrow extraction, for example. Most importantly, the use of blood stem cells means that your body signals to the cells to go to the site of need (such as our heart) to fix them, along with the many helper cells that also created from your blood cells.

6. Who are the medical professionals are giving the treatment overseas?

The doctors in Bangkok, Thailand who carry out the procedure are trained in the United States and accredited to practice in the USA.

7. What are the facilities like (medical and accommodation)?

The five hospitals in Bangkok are all international-standard medical facilities with dedicated heart centers that offer extensive services to cardiac patients. TheraVitae Co. Ltd.'s VIP service even includes express check-in at the hospital so you can bypass the busy admissions office, and you stay at a five-star hotel in Bangkok - all included in the cost of VesCell treatment.

8. How safe is the treatment?

TheraVitae studies involving more than 500 patients have indicated that these treatments are safe and have the potential to improve myocardial function. No serious adverse effects were observed that could be directly related to the administered cells.

Strict release specifications for product sterility, viability, dose and potency have been developed and defined based on extensive knowledge and understanding of regulatory requirements - including those developed by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

VesCell adult stem cell manufacturing uses a tightly controlled and stringently monitored process subject to thorough standards of biological product testing. Cleanroom environments are one step taken to implement the highest level of containment and ensure sterility.

9. Is the treatment painful?

No, VesCell adult stem cell therapy does not hurt the patient. Blood collection from the patient, to obtain the stem cells, is similar to that when you donate blood. It does not require any invasive procedures, anesthesia or stem/progenitor cell mobilization that could be harmful to cardiac patients. Once you are in Thailand, the reintroduction of your stem cells in to your body is done by catheter implant or direct myocardial injection of the stem cells - neither of which is a painful procedure.

10. How long must I stay overseas?

VesCell patients stay for two weeks in Bangkok, Thailand, which includes their pre-procedure, the procedure itself, and post-procedure work.

11. Is my personal safety be assured? How will I, and any family/friends traveling with me, be treated?

TheraVitae’s experienced American management-team has designed a program for you in the modern city of Bangkok that caters to your needs, including staffed escort service to your hotel, hospital, and doctor appointments. Your safety, and comfort, are paramount to TheraVitae's staff, including patient care coordinators assigned to your case. Customized treatment schedules are created for each patient, for any family or friends brought along on the trip.

12. Why does the treatment cost what it does?

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for.... Paying for VesCell adult stem cell therapy gets you:

Proven technology that extends and enhance your quality of life

The best medical expertise and patient care

A safe, comfortable experience throughout

VesCell for Heart Disease adult stem cell treatment costs US$44,900 for the stem cells to be implanted by catheter, or US$44,900 for direct myocardial injection of the stem cells. Those prices include all medically necessary fees for physicians, the hospital, your five-star hotel, the stem cells, and all local transportation.

VesCell for PAD (peripheral artery disease) adult stem cell treatment costs US$34,500 for both legs ($29,500 for one leg), including medically necessary fees for physicians, the hospital, your five-star hotel, the stem cells, and all local transportation.

The processes involved in production and implantation require a great deal of man hours of labor - such as highly specialized laboratory work - which is expensive. The special conditions used to grow and manufacture the adult stem cells require well-controlled working areas with costly equipment in a strict cleanroom environment. The additives used to differentiate and grow the cells are also very expensive - they're manufactured to be used in human subjects only.

TheraVitae Co. Ltd. is actively working on reducing the costs as they optimize the processes and take on more patients. As well, the company is exploring the option of offering financing for patients to ease the upfront financial burden.

Remember, you get what you pay for... Before you dismiss VesCell or any treatment as financially prohibitive , be sure to do your research and find out exactly what your money is buying.

Extended longevity of life and dramatically improved quality of life are two very good reasons to spend with the right health care provider for your overseas treatment!