How to Verify if a Foreign Clinic is Legitimate

To verify if a foreign clinic is legitimate, you need to check for a national health license, an international accreditation such as JCI, and a verification of the surgeon’s specialist registration.

When searching for medical tourism, people could easily be attracted to a fancy website. The real verification of the clinic is made in government databases and with third-party accreditors that require proof of safety standards.

How to Verify Foreign Clinic Credentials

Finding lower-cost treatment abroad has become easier than it used to be. This growth in medical tourism also attracts unlicensed health providers who do not have the proper credentials.

You aim to save on your treatment costs by choosing medical tourism, but you also should not end up in the hands of someone who isn't qualified to treat you.

A professional website or a large social media following does not prove that a clinic is a safe option. You can protect your health by doing detailed research into a clinic’s legal and professional standing.

We listed below the steps you can follow to make sure your foreign clinic and doctor is authorized and qualified.

Check The National Health License of the Clinic

The basic foundation of a legitimate medical center is its government-issued license. A facility cannot legally perform surgeries without oversight from its country’s Ministry of Health.

In the current landscape of medical tourism, many countries have also tightened their regulations to protect international patients.

As an example, Turkey requires clinics to have a specific "Health Tourism Authorization Certificate" to accept international patients. Without this certificate, a clinic can not treat foreign patients. The Heal In Türkiye portal is the official gateway to find licensed providers.

International Accreditation Standards are Another Quality Proof

National licensing is the minimum requirement for an international clinic / hospital.

An additional level of commitment to safety is the international accreditation.

The Joint Commission International (JCI) is a key institution in this field. JCI sends experts to hospitals to inspect the facility infrastructure and the clinical standards.

The JCI Searchable Directory is a public resource that allows you to search for international clinics. If a clinic claims to be "JCI Accredited" but does not appear in this database, then the claim is false.

Other accreditation institutions include:

• TEMOS, which focuses specifically on international patient management

• NABH, The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers, which is an organization in India for establishing and operating accreditation and certification programmes in healthcare.

Ask for The Surgeon’s Specialist Qualifications

Medical tourists make a common mistake by assuming that "Dr." before a name means the person is a qualified surgeon.

Before making a decision, you need to look for a specialist registration of your doctor, which means the doctor completed additional years of training in their specific field.

The EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials) portal is a tool to check a doctor’s credentials. If you are a patient, you cannot simply type a name into the EPIC website to see their results, but you can ask your doctor to share their verified EPIC report with you. This portal uses primary-source verification, which means the EPIC team contacts the university that issued the doctor’s degree. A physician first uploads their medical degree to the MyIntealth portal, where the EPIC contacts their home university to verify the authenticity of the document. Once verified, the doctor can send you a secure digital report that confirms their education and identity are legitimate.

You can also check national boards in the destination countries such as the General Medical Council (GMC)  in the UK or the Turkish Medical Association (TTB). A legitimate surgeon will always provide their registration number upon request.

Understand the Coverage of Malpractice Insurance

Medical procedures carry some level of risk. A professional clinic gets protection against malpractice risk by having professional liability insurance. With this insurance, if a clinical error happens, there is financial protection for your recovery and corrective care.

Before booking your trip, you should ask for a copy of the surgeon’s current malpractice policy. It is also important to check the scope of your doctor’s insurance policy to see if it includes international patients.

If a clinic tells you that insurance is not necessary or included in the price without showing you the policy, this should be a red flag about your potential financial risks.

Read the Written Agreements and Forms

The final step in your verification process involves the paperwork. Legitimate clinics provide a clear trail of documentation before you leave your home country. This documentation includes an "Informed Consent" form that explains the risks in your native language.

Official documents should feature the clinic’s physical address, tax ID, and legal name. You should be wary of clinics that only accept cash or "untraceable" payment methods. A professional clinic should provide a formal invoice, which is a legal proof of your contract and payment.

FAQ

Are Google or Trustpilot patient reviews trustworthy?

Reviews can be manipulated, so you should look for "verified" badges. High-quality feedback includes photos of the facility and mentions specific staff names. You should be suspicious of clinics that have 500 reviews that all look identical or were posted in the same month.

Is a high price a sign that a clinic is legitimate?

Price is not a direct indicator of quality. Some expensive clinics spend their money on celebrity endorsements rather than infrastructure and medical staff. You should judge a clinic by its accreditation status and its surgeon's credentials rather than its marketing budget.

What happens if the clinic's documents are in a different language?

You can use a certified medical translator to review your contracts. Signing a document you do not understand is a major safety risk. Most top-tier international clinics provide official translations in English as a standard practice.

Takeaways

• A national health license of the clinic is the first document you should request for your verification.

• JCI or TEMOS accreditations prove the clinic meets international safety levels.

• Checking your surgeon’s registration number against official medical boards is another verification step.

• You can confirm with the clinic if your surgeon has active malpractice insurance.

• A signed contract and a formal tax invoice are your legal protections.