Melo and Smith are not isolated cases. Medical tourism around the world is booming, and is expected to grow to an estimated US$40 billion annually by 2010 as patients opt to visit another country for medical care. Such travel used to be reserved for the rich and famous, but it’s gaining ground among just about anyone with a solvent bank account. Smith covered the $13,000 cost of his three-month treatment program out of his savings, while Melo borrowed the $25,000 she needed from family. And the aging boomer demographic could well be a boon for the industry: their relatively deep pockets would make it easier for them to bypass wait times in Canada and head abroad for treatment.

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