Countries With the Best Healthcare in the World

Knowing that you’re going to be looked after properly if you get ill is a key consideration for anyone thinking about travelling to a foreign country.

But access to quality medical care is absolutely vital for anyone thinking about moving lock, stock, and barrel overseas (or even just across the border) to live the Nomadic Capitalist lifestyle.

Most people are convinced that their country has the best healthcare in the world, even if that’s not statistically true. For most of these people, it’s a case of ‘better the devil you know…’

But the idea that only Western countries have sound medical practices and facilities is a thing of the past. Smart travellers know they need to be aware and informed about healthcare in the places they’re visiting.

Many non-Western countries are improving their healthcare offerings to encourage medical tourism. Legacy brand countries like the US don’t have the motivation to compete and stay on top of their healthcare. 

Places like Bucharest, Kuala Lumpur and Prague know they can’t afford to rest on their laurels, and they’re ready to compete for your healthcare needs.

That’s good news for those of you willing to move overseas. 

You can find better quality care at a lower cost – drastically lower than in the US. 

Even if you’re not looking to move overseas, consider that you can pay less and have a better experience with more efficient care through medical tourism.

In this article, we’ll show you which countries have the best healthcare for your dollar, the best hospitals for specific procedures, the best hospitals for routine care, countries with the best modern public healthcare systems and countries that had the best COVID-19 responses.

You’ll likely be surprised by some of the locations, many of which are outside of the Western world. 

At the end of this article, we’d also like to give you some advice on how to handle health insurance while living abroad, plus the best international health insurance plan available to you. 

You should be getting good healthcare for a reasonable price.

After all, our philosophy is to go where you’re treated best. Finding the best healthcare is doing just that for your body and your overall health.

Countries With the Best Healthcare Systems in the World for Your Dollar

It’s difficult to trust studies that report on countries with the best healthcare but only look at Western countries. 

While many Western countries may have great healthcare systems, these studies tend to miss a holistic perspective that considers more than just quality.

While France and Italy may rank near the top of the list for the world’s best healthcare, they also both make the list for countries with the highest tax rates. 

If you’re a seven- or eight-figure entrepreneur, you’ll be paying close to half of your income in taxes for that top-rate healthcare in those countries when you could live somewhere like the United Arad Emirates (UAE) that has high-quality healthcare, and you’ll pay 0% in taxes.

This section will point out some countries that rank higher than the US on the list for countries with the best healthcare but also have good tax policies and give you the best healthcare for your dollar.

Colombia

Colombia has worked hard to change its reputation and has become a great place for real estate and other investments, as well as a hotspot for startups.

In terms of healthcare, Colombia has become increasingly well-known for its low-cost, quality care. 

Medellín, in particular, has become a hotspot for retirees. The city offers access to some of the best hospitals in Latin America, with care and insurance costs 50-70% lower than those in the US and Europe.

Colombia is home to 24 of the 58 best hospitals in all of Latin America. Most have English-speaking staff, and many, like Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, the best hospital in Medellín, have special wings devoted entirely to medical tourism.

Oman

Oman was probably not on your medical tourism radar, but not only does it have phenomenal medical services, but the country also offers great value for your dollar. 

That’s partly because Oman has zero to very low-income tax (max 15%) and very few other taxes. 

Oman is a great frontier market for entrepreneurs looking to start a business. The country has a lot of potential with a low cost of living and low tax rates.

In terms of accessing healthcare facilities, the capital, Muscat and other big cities have the best care, but Oman is making major efforts to extend and improve its healthcare countrywide through clinics and smaller rural facilities. 

Oman offers state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled doctors who usually speak English, as most of them have been trained outside of the country or are expats. Oman is getting more and more attention as a destination for medical tourism.

Andorra

Nestled high in the beautiful Pyrenees, the small country of Andorra offers fantastic healthcare while also having a top tax rate of only 10%. 

Citizens of Andorra enjoy a high quality of life while also boasting one of the world’s highest life expectancies. 

Andorra is a great example of offering quality care as a Western country and not taxing half of your income. The country offers favourable options for starting a business if you’re an entrepreneur looking for a place to grow while also providing great healthcare options.

United Arab Emirates

As a country built on attracting foreigners, it makes sense that the UAE has developed a world-class healthcare system, ranking 27th in the world.

It’s set to become one of the best places for medical tourism in the next few years, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi offering dedicated medical tourism portals. Tourists spend millions of dollars every year on medical services here.

Fifty-five hospitals in the UAE have Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, and most doctors there are trained in the US and United Kingdom and speak English. 

Medical services here are top quality and are known for their high levels of efficiency and customer care. 

With state-of-the-art facilities and services, medical care does cost more than in some other countries, but you save overall by paying 0% in taxes. 

The local standards are extremely high, the doctors are highly trained and everything is clean and orderly. As the UAE is working to attract medical tourists, the country is heavily focused on providing the best care. 

With roughly 80% of its population foreign-born, if you’re looking at residence in the UAE, there are great options for healthcare and international insurance plans and coverage. 

Best Hospitals for Specific Procedures

Medical tourism has become increasingly popular as people realise they can travel to hospitals that both cost less and specialise in whatever specific procedure they’re aiming to get. 

Many of these hospitals trying to attract medical tourists will specialise in a specific area of medicine. Check out our article for a list of the best countries specifically for medical tourism. 

Here, we’ll highlight a few specific places that are the best for certain procedures.

Best Hospitals for Heart Procedures

Samsung Medical Centre, Seoul, Korea

Samsung Medical Centre (SMC) opened in 1994 and mainly focuses on improving the health of its country through patient-centred care and customer satisfaction. 

The hospital has lived up to this focus, having received numerous awards over the years in these areas. It’s also become well-known as a medical tourist destination.

SMC is best known for its Department of Cardiology, which is home to the best faculty of its kind in Korea. 

They lead in the treatment of coronary artery diseases, heart failure, valvular heart diseases, arrhythmia, hypertension, aortic diseases and peripheral vascular diseases.

SMC works to stay at the forefront of medical technology, particularly in cardiology, with state-of-the-art equipment to provide rapid and accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Humanitas Hospital, Italy

Humanitas Research Hospital is a highly specialised hospital, research centre and university teaching centre with JCI accreditation. 

As such, it’s often on the cutting edge of medical technology and is one of the leading hospitals in innovation.

Humanitas is best known for its Cardio Centre, which uses innovative techniques and the latest generation of robotics for arrhythmia treatments. 

This hospital specialises in cardiac and vascular surgery, electrophysiology, cardio-respiratory rehabilitation and has a thrombosis and hemorrhagic diseases centre.

As a leader in cardiac procedures, Humanitas has streamlined the process for international patients. With full-service booking, lodging and transportation, and 24-hour translation services, Humanitas makes your trip simple and seamless. 

The German Heart Centre, Berlin, Germany

Since 1986, the German Heart Centre has been a long-standing success story. It offers the treatment of the entire spectrum of cardiac, thoracic and vascular diseases, as well as artificial heart implants and heart and lung transplants.

This institution specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and therapy of cardiovascular diseases and treats thousands of patients each year. 

The routine performance of these heart procedures provides its doctors with the most extensive experience worldwide in applying different support systems in both adults and children.

The German Heart Center attracts many medical tourists and, as such, has a guesthouse on the grounds for the families of patients. 

They also offer services to aid in obtaining a medical visa to Germany and have full-time translators, though most doctors speak German, English and Russian.

Best Hospitals for Cancer Treatment

Sheba Medical Centre, Tel Aviv, Israel

Sheba Medical Centre is the largest medical facility in the Middle East. It’s comprised of the general hospital, the rehabilitation hospital, the women’s maternity hospital and the children’s hospital. 

Sheba’s Cancer Centre provides expert, professional and compassionate treatment for even the most difficult cases. They use the most advanced medicine and what they call a ‘360-degree approach’ to address all aspects of cancer treatment.

Sheba is the leading clinical research centre in Israel. It’s home to more than 90 research groups, and about 4,000 active studies are conducted there each year. 

The staff of the medical centre publish about 1,800 scientific articles a year, making them the leading medical institution in Israel in terms of the number and quality of publications.

They have a medical tourism division within the centre that offers individually tailored travel and healthcare packages for international patients. They offer travel, lodging, translation and transportation services.

Helios Hospital, Berlin-Buch, Germany

The Helios Cancer Centre brings together leading experts from different fields in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer diseases. 

Combined with the most modern equipment, the vast experience and qualifications of the doctors bring success even in the most difficult and rare cases, with a recovery rate in most departments that is consistently higher than the national average.

The clinic has been certified three times by the German Cancer Society as an oncological centre.

Thanks to the close cooperation between clinics, research institutions and biotechnology companies on the Berlin-Buch campus, patients benefit directly from top-class medical research.

Every year, the hospital sees thousands of patients from abroad. They offer booking services to help with obtaining your medical visa, finding lodging, arranging for transportation needs, and even setting up sightseeing excursions if you’re feeling up to it. 

The Proton Therapy Centre for Prostate Cancer, Prague, Czech Republic

The Proton Therapy Centre in Prague, Czech Republic, specialises in the treatment of prostate cancer. It’s an excellent alternative to the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in the US.

This centre offers the most advanced and accurate form of radiotherapy currently available and has treated over 6,000 patients from 50+ countries.

While they treat many types of cancer, prostate cancer is their most common focus. With their proton radiotherapy technology, they can achieve the best dose distributions and have great success with fewer side effects than normal treatments.

They serve many international patients and, as such, offer services to simplify your experience. They can make arrangements for appointments, flights, hotels, and translators, and they can even pick you up at the airport.

Best Hospitals for Dental Treatments

Velvet Dental, Bucharest, Romania 

Velvet Dental Clinic, located in the Primaverii area of Bucharest, has placed its focus on patient comfort. They’ve worked to create a soothing yet high-tech atmosphere that shows their dedication to personalised, quality dental care.

In terms of quality, Velvet Dental easily competes with those at the forefront of dentistry. They use the best materials, apply the latest technology, work with certified laboratories and are composed of a team of carefully trained specialists.

The centre also provides its staff, assistants and dentists with continual opportunities to learn and improve on the latest dental techniques and procedures, which leads to increased accuracy and patient trust.

With a team of highly qualified dentists and the latest dental technology, Velvet Dental offers the full spectrum of dental needs. 

Its services include dental implants, crowns, aesthetics, orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontology and imaging/radiology for both children and adults.

Apostoloski Dental, Belgrade, Serbia 

Apostoloski Dental has diligently worked to stay current in providing top-quality dental care with state-of-the-art technology, supplies and equipment. They also provide highly trained staff in a comfortable atmosphere.

Dr Apostoloski is an experienced and highly trained dentist who works to stay on top of the best techniques and practices to provide the best in personalised care. His passion and expertise are in dental and full mouth reconstruction.

Apostoloski Dental continues to grow its dentistry tourist clientele as an increasing percentage of its clients come from around the world. Its website offers great recommendations for how to make the most of your dental tourist trip to Belgrade.

The Workshop of Smiles, St Petersburg, Russia

The Workshop of Smiles has been giving people a beautiful and healthy smile since 2007. It provides a range of services, from implantation and surgery to orthodontics and dental prosthetics.  

The Workshop of Smiles provides an upbeat, professional atmosphere that promises patients high-quality, pain-free treatment through the use of the latest dental advancements in anaesthetics and dental technologies. 

The clinic is equipped with world-class equipment and only uses the best materials from global manufacturers. 

Their team of doctors is composed of specialists, each with more than 10 years of experience. The lead dentist, Alexander Barburov, has written a book and provides training seminars for other dentists on dental prosthetics.

The team is constantly working to improve their skills and knowledge in the field of implants, prosthetics and dental treatments with the best Russian and European specialists. They always implement the most advanced treatment methods.

Their affordable yet high-quality treatments and procedures have attracted the attention of many in the region and around the world.  

Best Hospitals for Cosmetic Surgery: Brazil

In Brazil, there isn’t one specific hospital that’s best for cosmetic surgery. 

Looking good and feeling sexy is important in all of Brazil – almost to an extreme – so it’s easy to find many places that do a quality job for whatever it is you want done. After the US, Brazil is home to more cosmetic surgeons than anywhere else on the planet.

While Brazil can’t boast of an efficient system, it can claim 60% lower costs than the US while still having highly trained doctors in more than 40 JCI-accredited hospitals.

Hospital Samaritano de Sao Paulo is the best-known JCI-accredited hospital in Sao Paulo, but you’ll also pay a bit more for the top doctors there. 

If you’re looking to save money, it’s worth it to shop around in the lesser-known clinics, as many still have highly qualified doctors.

Best Hospital for Hip and Knee Replacement: Fortis Hospital, India

Fortis Hospital offers a network of some of the best healthcare facilities across India. Its Department of Orthopedics specialises in hip and knee replacement. 

Patients from around the world come to be treated by doctors who are world leaders in their specialties and who use the latest technology in robotic surgery. 

And patients here pay as little as six cents on the dollar compared to what one would pay in the US. Prices vary according to specific situations and conditions but start as low as US$4,000.

Best Hospital for Surgical Procedures: Bumrungrad International Hospital, Thailand  

Bumrungrad International Hospital is a top-rated medical facility in Bangkok, Thailand. It serves over one million patients a year, with half of those coming from other countries. 

Bumrungrad is well known for its cutting-edge technology and medical research and is also a medical tourist destination.

Among its many specialties, Bumrungrad is best known for its surgical procedures, especially focusing on robot-assisted surgeries, which are more accurate, less invasive and lower the risk of post-surgery complications.

Bumrungrad’s robotic surgery is led by an internationally renowned surgeon and a team of specialists. You’ll find a clean, state-of-the-art facility with the best surgery care worldwide.

Best Hospitals for Routine Care

If you’re not looking for a specific surgery or procedure, then it’s also important to know about the quality of routine care and which hospitals are best worldwide for general care. 

Many of those who haven’t travelled outside of the Western world often worry that other countries have inferior care and facilities.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth. 

What you’ll find in many countries are clean, state-of-the-art facilities with highly qualified staff, nurses, doctors and cutting-edge medical technology.

Here are a few of the places that are best for routine healthcare. 

Prince Court Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Prince Court Medical Centre is a 270-bed private healthcare facility located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

It holds itself to the highest international medical standards. This hospital has world-class facilities, uses innovative technology and is known for its warm and superior customer service.

In fact, our team at Nomad Capitalist have first-hand experience with Prince Court Medical Centre. It’s known as one of the best hospitals in the region, has international acclaim and is not far from the main areas in Kuala Lumpur.

You’ll be seen there by qualified doctors – most of whom studied in the UK or US and speak English – in a museum-like atmosphere for a tiny fraction of the cost of what you’d pay in the US and other Western countries. 

Because of the low cost, you don’t necessarily need to bother with insurance and can just pay out of pocket. It’s more of a hassle to bill insurance than just to pay the small cost. 

For example, when you get an ‘executive health check,’ it’s about US$150 for one of the world’s most thorough health checks. 

They rush you around to the front of every line and then give you a food voucher to get lunch. Everything is done more efficiently than anything our team has ever experienced in the US.

The doctors seem more down-to-earth and much more honest with you than in the US. They treat you more like a customer than just a patient. 

Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore

Known for its commitment to quality and affordable healthcare, Gleneagles is an internationally recognised, JCI-accredited hospital. 

It was set up to be a one-stop service for all your health needs. They provide a range of medical and surgical specialties, including oncology, cardiology, liver transplants, gastroenterology, orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine and obstetrics and gynaecology.

Gleneagles is also known for its strong sense of community and cooperation among doctors to get you the best care.

The quality of patient care is so well-known worldwide that it attracts thousands of medical tourists each year. Many people in the surrounding regions also travel to Gleneagles for their routine care.

Clemenceau Medical Centre, Beirut, Lebanon

Clemenceau Medical Centre is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHMI) and has been rated number one in medical tourism for many years. 

It’s located in Beirut, Lebanon, which is certainly a place that many Westerners find a surprising option for high-quality medical care.

If top-quality, affordable healthcare is what you’re looking for, Clemenceau Medical Centre is rated excellent for patient care for medical tourists.

They’re best known for their cardiovascular and neurology departments, which use the most modern medical technology and up-to-date practices. 

They also have a Second Opinion program that connects doctors associated with JHMI to doctors at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, US, for a more thorough evaluation of certain conditions and situations. 

Samitivej, Thailand

Samitivej’s first hospital was founded in June 1979 in the Thong Lor area of Bangkok, Thailand, right on Sukhumvit Soi 49. It has now expanded to seven hospitals throughout Thailand, all of which are recognised as some of the top hospitals in Asia. 

This hospital group also attracts medical tourists from around the globe. It caters to the large expat population within Thailand but has recently become a medical tourist destination for people from China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. 

This international attention has made Samitivej a top-rated destination for medical travellers.

Samitivej Hospital has a long history of excellent care and innovation. In 1999, Samitivej became the first hospital in Thailand to be awarded the prestigious recognition as a Mother-and-Baby-Friendly Hospital by the World Health Organisation and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). 

Samitivej continues to specialise in neonatal and pediatric services with several specialists in areas like pediatric orthopaedics, liver and gastrointestinal care, newborn and pediatric surgery and high-risk pregnancies.

Countries With the Best Public Healthcare Systems in 2025

Naming the countries with the best public healthcare systems is an interesting process because it entirely depends on your definition of what makes something ‘the best’. 

Some focus on having the top specialists for the specific service they’re seeking, while others care more about patient care, costs, or the latest medical technology.

As in other aspects of our Nomad Capitalist philosophy, it’s best to take a holistic approach to really go where you’re treated best for what’s important to you.

US News put together a list of the top ten best healthcare systems for 2024, and nearly all are in the Western world. 

As mentioned earlier, you should be a little sceptical of studies that only put Western countries at the top, as they’re not taking the holistic approach.

Still, here’s their list, starting at number 10:

10. Japan

9. Netherlands

8. United Kingdom

7. Canada

6. Norway

5. Switzerland

4. Finland

3. Germany

2. Denmark

1. Sweden

While this list is useful, it’s not the most useful list for finding the best healthcare system for you. 

Instead of just focusing on ‘the best’ healthcare systems, you’d be better off finding a country with quality routine care and then looking for a specialist for your bigger needs. 

Why do we only look for competition in some things? If you look at the top hospitals in the world, the list is far more varied, with many of the best hospitals outside of the Western world.  

This shows that the Western world is not as significant as it once was for quality healthcare. 

Yes, Sweden and Denmark may have great hospitals and quality care, but at what cost? Higher healthcare costs and tax rates of almost half your income. No thanks.

The Eastern world is emerging as a destination where they want to be on par with the competition and grow their country. They’re competing to attract healthcare dollars from people in the US and UK.  

Not only is there similar or even higher quality care in these non-Western countries, there are also huge cost savings benefits. 

Emerging countries are working to have the best care so they can attract medical tourists. They offer specialists who are worth travelling to see and where you will easily save money when compared to what you spend on healthcare in the US and other Western countries.

So, what some groups see as the best healthcare systems are certainly not always ‘the best’. Instead, it’s worth looking beyond a Western-style system to go where you’re really treated best.

Countries With the Best (and Worst) COVID-19 Response

There are a couple of places where the US shows up first on the list for healthcare. 

First, it tops the list for the most expensive care. Second, the US rates first for the worst response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In an article about countries that had the best and worst responses to COVID-19, countries that quickly responded with travel restrictions and contact tracing fared the best. 

At the top of the list for handling it best was Taiwan. Getting a first-row seat to the epicentre of the pandemic, Taiwan was able to observe China and quickly set its own containment strategy in place. Taiwan only had 12 reported deaths.

New Zealand came next with only 26 reported deaths. They were aggressive in their lockdowns and tracing, focusing on eliminating the disease and not just flattening the curve.

Spots three, four and five were Iceland, Singapore and Vietnam. They similarly had very few deaths due to aggressive contact tracing strategies and travel restrictions.

On the flip side, those governments that took a more relaxed, slow response to the virus had significantly higher death rates. As mentioned, the US tops the list, followed by Brazil, India, Mexico and the UK.

It’s interesting to note that in these cases, it’s not necessarily just access to good healthcare facilities and resources that were lacking, but instead more of the attitude toward responding quickly and effectively. 

The COVID-19 pandemic definitely helped point out some troubling attitudes in some of these regions.

While you may not be concerned about COVID responses anymore, it’s a useful thing to look at, as it shows how effectively a country can respond to healthcare emergencies and what approach it takes to its population’s wellbeing. 

Who knows what kind of global healthcare pandemic may strike next? And if, or when, it does, you’ll certainly want to be in a place that manages it as effectively as possible.

Best International Health Insurance

One question we often get from clients exploring the Nomad Capitalist lifestyle is about how to get health insurance when they’re not in one spot for long. 

Or if you’re moving overseas, you’ll often run across health insurance requirements in order to get a residence permit. 

This is the case in Asia, under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program or in Thailand for the Investor Visa. You’re required to have health insurance in order to qualify for the residence permit.

In addition, international health insurance is especially important if you’re retiring to another country and will need more healthcare services. You’ll want to make sure you’re not only getting the best care but that you’re insured in the event of an emergency.

The first important thing to understand when you’re leaving your home country to become a Nomad Capitalist (especially if it’s the United States) is the reality of the cost of healthcare and the need for insurance.  

You’re not going to go to the emergency room in Malaysia and get a bill for US$100,000. It’s just not going to happen. 

Meanwhile, in the US, in particular, people go in for pretty benign stuff and get huge bills. 

If you go to the emergency room at one of the best hospitals in Malaysia (mentioned above), it might cost US$100 to US$200. Again, often, the doctors there are educated in the UK, and the care is just as good. 

So understand that if you’re coming from a place where insurance protects you from catastrophic healthcare costs, there’s not as big of a risk for super high bills in other places. There is a huge difference in cost. 

If you’re a wealthy Nomad Capitalist, self-insurance is not a bad thing to do in many of these countries with low healthcare costs. 

This could be a smart move in tandem with making reasonable risk transfers.

Best Healthcare in the World: FAQs

Find the Country With the Best Healthcare in the World

The bottom line is that excellent healthcare isn’t limited to just a few Western countries. 

From Colombia to Malaysia, many places off the typical healthcare radar offer high-quality care at a fraction of the cost. 

Whether you’re looking for top-notch specialists or affordable routine care, looking further abroad for healthcare can save you money and improve your experience. 

If you’re ready to explore your healthcare options overseas – whether for medical tourism or a long-term move – Nomad Capitalist can help. 

We’ll guide you to the best countries for your needs, including factors like healthcare, lower taxes and a better life. Reach out today to start your journey of going where you’re treated best.