Expat top of the OPS revealed

From Andorra to Zimbabwe, the healthcare needs of expatriates bear striking similarities, with caesarean sections and CT scans representing the most common procedures in most global regions, according to data from Bupa International.

The world's largest expatriate health insurer, with almost 800,000 customers in 190 countries, has analysed the most common procedures worldwide to find that caesarean sections and CT scans top the list of expat operations across Africa, North America and the Middle East. Removal of moles and skin lesions have in the past been common across most regions of the world but now have become rare, however, in Europe diagnostic tests - such as colonoscopies and gastrocopies - stand out as the most frequent procedures undertaken by expats.

Bupa International's data also shows that:

Expats in Africa have more operations to remove their appendix than those in any other region of the world.

MRI scans feature in the top three procedures in Central and South America and Africa.

There were no cases of primary repair to inguinal hernia in most regions of the world; in fact, operations to remove a hernia were only present as a top procedure in North and Central/South America.

Asia is the only region to have seen a rise in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of the gall bladder) where as Central and South America is the only region to have seen a decline in the procedure.

Dr. Torben Staher Johannsen, medical director Bupa International, said: "Expats have common healthcare needs wherever they are in the world and health insurance plays a vital role in providing them with rapid access to high quality medical facilities, no matter which country they are in when they require diagnosis or treatment.

"Caesarean sections and CT scans dominate the list because they represent health procedures that transcend regional boundaries and are relevant anywhere in the world. It is interesting to see diagnostic tests such as colonoscopies on the rise in Europe, which is a sign that these tests are becoming more mainstream. This can only be a good thing - after all the sooner health problems are diagnosed, the better the chance of someone being treated successfully."

Bupa International recently announced that it now provides cover not just for the diagnosis of chronic diseases but also to control them.

For more information about Bupa International visit bupa-intl.com