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THE COST OF visiting a doctor or dentist for treatment in Ireland has dropped in the past year.
That’s according to the second Avantis Global Health and Dental Price index, which shows that Irish health and dental charges dropped by between 3 and 10 per cent since spring 2011, with a small number of exceptions.
The survey also shows there is a variation of up to 70 per cent in some treatments, with some people able to save up to 50 per cent by travelling abroad to countries like Spain, Belgium and Germany for treatment.
Prices for common dental treatments in Ireland are down by 21 per cent in some cases, and cosmetic surgery procedures dropped by between 10 per cent.
Elective medical procedures also showed reductions of up to 16 per cent.
However, not all treatments are cheaper -the cost of laser eye surgery is up by 21 per cent and nose reconstruction surgery is 24 per cent more expensive.
Avantis Health Director, Orla Fahy, said that the figures show a modest reduction in health and dental prices overall, reflecting the challenging economic environment.
Irish patients can make significant savings on their health and dental care, by merely shopping around within Ireland, with substantial savings possible if they are willing to travel abroad for treatment.
For example, patients requiring a simple dental implant (with crown) can save over 75 per cent or €300 per crown by undergoing the treatment in Dublin as opposed to some other Irish cities in Connaught or Leinster. Patients requiring common but more invasive medical procedures, such as knee replacements, can make savings of 9 per cent or c.€1604 by traveling to Connaught from Leinster. A further 30 per cent saving can be achieved by engaging the services provided by Avantis Health and having the procedure in Spain.
Fahy added that savings in cosmetic surgery are also particularly evident as a breast augmentation procedure can cost 67 per cent or around €2000 less in Dublin than in other some other cities in Ireland.
Despite the cuts, Ireland remains one of the most expensive countries in Europe for health and dental treatments.
Tooth extraction
Laser Eye Surgery
Breast augmentation
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I’m sorry but either this headline is misleading or we’re being mislead, the headline clearly says “drop in Irish medical costs” but goes on to mention going to places like Spain, Belgium, Germany, UK, Northern Ireland, Tunisia and Hungary. Not exactly shopping local is it?
How can they seriously claim this is an example of a drop in IRISH medical costs, it isn’t, it’s an example of how Irish medical costs are still higher compared to going abroad. Need a hip replacement? Well it’ll cost you here but if you want to hop on a plane, fly around Europe and see the sights it’ll still be cheaper abroad… but believe it or not thats just an example of how cheap we are. Honest… no seriously.
Hi Brian – the drop is in Irish prices since the last index on Irish prices, which was in Spring 2011.
It’s not a drop in Irish prices compared to EU prices – apologies if that wasn’t clear,
As for the figures at the end of the article, that is to illustrate the point that the costs differ between countries.
Thanks
Aoife
The article clearly says “The survey also shows there is a variation of up to 70 per cent in some treatments, with some people able to save up to 50 per cent by travelling abroad to countries like Spain, Belgium and Germany for treatment.” This would seem to suggest that Irish patients can save on their treatments by going abroad, for example it makes no distinction on Laser Eye Surgery between going to Dublin or Hungary, just that a major saving can be made.
On knee replacements they make no distinctions between shopping around within Ireland or abroad “Patients requiring common but more invasive medical procedures, such as knee replacements, can make savings of 9 per cent or c.€1604 by traveling to Connaught from Leinster. A further 30 per cent saving can be achieved by engaging the services provided by Avantis Health and having the procedure in Spain.” To be fair I do know of people who have travelled abroad for treatment, and it was much cheaper than here. We are being ripped off here.
Hi Brian
yes the article says that as a lead on from the initial point that Irish costs are in general slightly lower than in the Spring time of this year. The points are separate but connected:
- Costs have lowered in Ireland this year
- It costs less for certain treatments in different areas of Ireland
- It costs less for certain treatments in European countries compared to Ireland
This would suggest that people can shop around both in Ireland and abroad.
But this is separate to the point that the costs have lowered in Ireland.
The figures are included as examples – unfortunately I do not have the space to include all of the details for all the treatments outlined in this article.
Hope that is clearer for you
Aoife
The “article” is a press release from a company that makes money from people purchasing healthcare abroad, so I’d take everything it says with a large pinch of salt.
Yet again a press release from a company is dressed up as news. This is a bit like McDonalds releasing a “study” showing people can save money in burgers by shopping around and using their outlets.
And you wonder why people cross the border!
Just wondering how breast augmentation costs an average of €2.7k in Ireland when the average for the provinces and Dublin are all above 3k….figures don’t seem to add up.
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