Where To Expat For Health and Safety

Montevideo, Uruguay, is not the cheapest of cities to live in.  And it's a bit out of the way for some.

However, Uruguay is known for relatively great health care and a good support system that Expats can join.  For more details, visit our Uruguay forum.

I have visited Montevideo, spending a week there not that long ago.  The city seems to be less polluted than other South American capitals.  It's on the water and has wonderful park areas with amazing sunsets at the park.

If I were choosing one city just for health and safety, it would probably be Montevideo (mohn-teh-bee-DAY-oh).

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Western Europe (pick any city - except maybe in the UK, which some argue is not part of Europe ...) has excellent health care facilities and comprehensive, compulsory health insurance coverage, so you never have to worry about treatments and costs.

I have sought medical treatment in Colombia's major cities of Bogotá and Medellín in recent years.

Both cities have great medical resources available .. and Colombia has a health system that Expats can join.  I didn't have a cédula so I didn't join;  online reviews seem to be generally quite positive about health care options.

I believe you can find good care in either city.  BOG, as a national capital, may have more doctors who speak English.  Anecdotally, the specialist I saw multiple times in the capital for a thyroid issue spoke excellent English and did an excellent job;  the GP I saw once in MDE spoke with me only in Spanish.

Both cities have had their pollution and covid problems. 

If I had to choose between them looking for the healthier place to live, I would probably choose Medellín for its milder weather.  My personal experiences, research and Internet-monitoring indicate that, given the varying elevations in the Paisa capital and other factors, there are neighborhood pockets where air pollution is not usually a serious problem.

Getting to medical appointments was no problem for me in either city, as taxis were abundant.

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I have sought medical care in Thailand on a few occasions .. and came away impressed with what I found.

A specialist at Bangkok's Bumrungrad International Hospital brilliantly removed a growth from my lower lip.  The lip healed well and I never had a problem with it again.

The hospital is located in an area where many Expats stay.  The hospital where I was treated was super-friendly to Expats.  Expect English-speaking attention.

Bangkok's hot weather is a deal-breaker for many Expats looking for a place to relocate.  However, for those who can take the heat .. the health care at one of Asia's top hospitals, the wonderful Thai food, and the widespread access to air conditioning and swimming pools may make BKK a place to consider.

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The other place where I had a procedure done in Thailand was Chiang Mai Ram Hospital in the Northern Thai city of Chiang Mai.  Chiang Mai struck me as generally a cleaner city than Bangkok.  Compared to the steamy capital, there are several months of the year -- November through part of January -- when the weather is generally mild and pleasant.

I had liposuction performed at the Ram hospital circa 2004.  They put me under for about a day and a half.  When I came to, the stomach surgery had been completed and my recovery had begun.

The surgeon was exceptional in his so-called bedside manner and the follow-up.

This was the only significant surgery I have undergone as an adult.  I was totally satisfied with the attention and the result.

I visited Chiang Mai many times during the 2000's decade.  Never felt safer anywhere, and at any hour.

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