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Leading Edge Medical
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by James O. Perry
Medicine has always evolved globally. Innovations in health care occur around the world as doctors and scientists working at universities, health care device companies and other organizations grapple with major healthcare issues. What is new is that with globalization, unique health care options are available worldwide to those who can access them. For Americans, international health care often has an added economic value by virtue of being provided in countries with lower cost structures, such as Thailand, Singapore or India. Ultimately, the quest for innovation to optimize health, treat disease, end suffering and enhance the quality of life knows no borders. The first successful heart transplantation — a procedure pioneered in a worldwide effort — took place in Cape Town South Africa in 1967. Cardiac transplantation is now the fourth most common organ transplantation in the U.S. Laser assisted vision correction (LASIK) was pioneered globally and made widely available in Germany in the mid 1980’s. LASIK was not available in the U.S. until 1996, when it was finally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here are some examples of medical procedures that are available internationally, but not yet available in the U.S. market: HIP RESURFACING: Demand for hip resurfacing, a treatment developed for active younger patients with severe arthritis, is driving patients overseas. Unlike joint replacement surgery, the bone is not cut, thus allowing for more normal hip function and less recovery time after surgery. Floyd Landis, U.S. cycling champion, had this surgery and it allowed him to compete and become a top international cyclist in the Tour de France. Thailand, Singapore, and India are among the countries where this procedure is available. STEM CELLS: A life restoring procedure is available to severe heart failure patients with no other treatment option. Stem cells taken from the patient’s own blood and processed by special technique are then injected back in the heart muscle or delivered by a heart catheter to the blood vessels of the heart. The results of a study of this procedure were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific conference in November 2005. The results showed that in six months, 90% of patients who received this treatment felt better, 70% had improved exercise capacity on a treadmill test, and 75% had more blood flow to the heart muscle in the damaged areas. There are only five physicians worldwide trained in this procedure; all are in Thailand and Singapore. HEARING DEVICES: According to the American Speech and Language Association, hearing loss affects one in six Americans, doubling in the last 30 years to over 30 million people. The latest and most promising implantable and semi-implantable hearing devices are not fully FDA approved and therefore are not for sale in the U.S. Some of these devices have demonstrated impressive hearing improvements of 20-40 decibels. Singapore, among other countries, offers significant value in hearing devices and very high quality testing. STENTS: Treating diseases of the heart and blood vessels with stents has greatly advanced treatment options and saved lives. Stents are mesh-walled tubes that can be placed inside blood vessels to help them remain open and to provide a new interior lining. In some cases these stents can be a problem, as they become the source of blood clots. Several new stents, including some designed to prevent blood clots, were developed by a U.S. manufacturer. Ironically, most of these products are not available in the U.S. or have only limited approval by the FDA. However, they are being actively used in countries like Singapore and Thailand, often in conjunction with manufacturer testing programs. The safety of a national health care system is a sovereignty issue. Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) provide global leadership, but each nation regulates and approves medical procedures, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals according to its own national interest. In the U.S., this regulatory authority lies with the FDA. Often sharply criticized for being slow to respond to innovations in health care, the FDA has given special considerations to expediting or “fast tracking” approval in some cases. Whether or not the FDA is properly balancing safety and innovation, is beyond the scope of this article. Historically, Americans who have wanted procedures and devices which were not approved by the FDA have sought them elsewhere. In the era of globalization, this will be a growing trend. James O. Perry, PA-C is managing
director of International Medical Resources. He lives in Bangkok,
Thailand where he specializes in streamlining access to global
health care resources that are uniquely innovative and of high
value. www.medinfoonline.com |
