Medical tourism in Dominican Republic

Medical tourism in the Dominican Republic for U.S. patients

The Dominican Republic is close to the U.S. East Coast and is marketed to U.S. patients mainly for cosmetic surgery and dental work. It also has a documented record of serious complications among U.S. patients after cosmetic surgery, summarized below. xcuro currently lists one dental practice in Santo Domingo and no plastic surgery clinics in the Dominican Republic.

Documented complications after cosmetic surgery

In 2013–2014, the CDC and state health departments investigated 21 U.S. women in six states (most in New York) who developed hard-to-treat surgical-site infections with rapidly growing mycobacteria, mainly Mycobacterium abscessus, after cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic, most often liposuction. Thirteen had been operated on at the same clinic. Of the nine patients from that clinic with available records, all needed further surgery, eight were hospitalized and seven needed three months or more of antibiotics; the Dominican Ministry of Health reported that the clinic was closed after an inspection. The investigators noted an earlier cluster of similar infections after liposuction in Santo Domingo in 2003–2004 and reported that they could not identify any Dominican surgical center accredited by an internationally recognized body (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2016).

The U.S. State Department says many U.S. citizens have suffered serious complications or died during or after cosmetic or other elective surgery in the Dominican Republic, that legal options in case of malpractice are very limited, and that private clinics sometimes hold patients or their passports over unpaid bills, which is illegal under Dominican law (State Department, Dominican Republic).

Checking a doctor or dentist

The State Department advises getting a medical evaluation from a U.S. doctor first and checking that the professional is licensed in the Ministry of Health's exequatur registry (exequatur lookup), and researching the doctor's qualifications, experience and complication rate and the facility's credentials.

Getting there and how long to stay

A tourist card included in the airfare allows stays of up to 30 days, and every traveler must fill in the free eTicket form for entry and exit. The State Department rates the Dominican Republic Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution”, because of crime.

Whatever the destination, the CDC recommends seeing a travel-medicine provider before you go, bringing copies of your medical records, arranging follow-up care at home before surgery, and waiting 10 to 14 days before flying after major surgery. Complications treated after you return may not be covered by U.S. insurance.