Weight loss surgery tourism needs urgent regulation, experts say
Briefly

The medical tourism sector for weight loss surgery is expanding rapidly, with approximately 5,000 Britons traveling abroad each year for affordable procedures. Concerns have emerged over patient safety, prompting experts to call for stricter regulation due to risks like botched surgeries leading to serious complications, including infections and even fatalities. A report indicated that from 2019 to March 2024, 28 British individuals died following elective surgeries in Turkey. Despite advancements like weight loss jabs, the growth rate of this $400 billion industry continues unabated, raising alarms about patient safety and the necessity for regulatory oversight.
Medical tourism for weight loss is rising in popularity, with around 5,000 Britons a year travelling overseas for cut-price surgery. Experts have warned the industry is putting patients' lives at risk and is in urgent need of regulation.
At least 28 British people had died between 2019 and March 2024, due to complications from elective medical procedures performed in Turkey, figures provided by the Foreign Office revealed.
The medical tourism industry for weight loss surgery continues to grow, yet severe risks such as infections, leakage, and sepsis persist, emphasizing the need for regulation.
Weight loss surgery, sometimes called bariatric surgery, is a treatment for people who are severely obese. It makes the stomach smaller, so it feels fuller sooner and less food is eaten.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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