What a medical tourism facilitator does, and what to ask before you choose one
By the OmLina team · Last reviewed
The short answer
A medical tourism facilitator organises treatment abroad on a patient’s behalf: it gathers your reports, gets opinions and quotes from hospitals, and helps with the visa, travel, your stay and follow-up once you are home. A facilitator doesn’t treat you; the hospital and surgeon do. Before you choose one, ask how it is paid, how many hospitals it compares for your case, what is in writing, and what support you get after you are home.
What a facilitator does
- Collects your diagnosis, scans and reports, and sends them to hospitals for an opinion.
- Brings back treatment plans and quotes so you can compare them.
- Sets up calls with surgeons before you commit.
- Helps with the medical visa, travel dates, airport pickup, interpreters and where you stay.
- Supports you and your family during the hospital stay.
- Keeps in touch after you are home and passes your records to your own doctor.
How much of this a facilitator really does varies a lot, which is why the questions below matter.
How facilitators are paid
A facilitator may charge you a fee, receive a commission from the hospital you choose, or both. None of these is wrong in itself, but you should know which applies, because a facilitator paid only by hospitals can have a reason to steer you towards some of them. Ask for every fee in writing before you agree to anything.
12 questions to ask before you choose
- Do you work for one hospital or group, or independently? How many hospitals will you compare for my case?
- How are you paid: by me, by the hospital, or both?
- Will I get an itemized quote from each hospital, and what does it leave out (implants, extra nights, medicines)?
- Which hospitals are they, and how can I check their accreditation myself?
- Can I speak with the surgeon on video before I travel?
- Who reviews my reports, and how quickly will I hear back?
- What do you do for the medical visa, and who books the flights?
- Who will be with me at the hospital, and is there help with the language?
- What happens if I need a longer stay or there is a complication, and who pays for it?
- What is refunded if the surgery can’t go ahead?
- What follow-up do I get once I am home, and what records will my own doctor receive?
- How do you keep my medical documents safe?
Warning signs
- Pressure to pay before you have seen a treatment plan and a quote.
- Only one hospital offered, with no reason given.
- Promises about the outcome of your surgery.
- Fees that are only ever discussed by phone, never in writing.
- No answer about what happens if something goes wrong.
How OmLina answers these questions
| Question | OmLina |
|---|---|
| Independent? | OmLinaYes. We compare treatment plans and itemized quotes from 3 or more certified hospitals in India, with no bias toward any one hospital. |
| Fees in writing? | OmLinaYes. The discovery call is free, no payment is needed to get a quote, and every fee is explained in writing before you agree to it. |
| Reports reviewed by? | OmLinaOur clinical team, with a plain-language summary of your case within 12 hours of receiving your reports. |
| Surgeon video call? | OmLinaYes, with your shortlisted surgeons before any travel, with an OmLina concierge on the call. |
| Visa and flights? | OmLinaMedical visa paperwork and invitation letter at no charge. We plan your flight dates; you book your own tickets. |
| In hospital? | OmLinaYour bill is checked line by line before you settle it, and your family gets daily updates. |
| After discharge? | OmLinaA wellness and spiritual retreat once your surgeon signs you fit to fly, included in every plan, then one month of follow-up at home and a letter and records for your doctor. |
See how it all fits together in the patient journey, or how OmLina compares with brokers and hospital referral desks.
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. OmLina is a healthcare concierge, not a hospital: all medical care is given by licensed hospitals and their surgeons.
Questions about your own case?
Talk to us about your diagnosis. The first call is free, and you don’t need to send any reports before it.