15 Best Medical Cities in the World

With all the new diseases and ailments being discovered, it would be great to have knowledge on the best medical cities in the world just in case you find yourself in a predicament away from home.

At some point in our lives we will all experience a visit (or a few) to the hospital. Whether it be an injury or a serious illness, it’s unfortunately inevitable that we will at some point be a patient. I myself have experienced a few visits between broken bones from sports and kidney stones. While I had pleasant enough experiences with the staff, I don’t prefer to be in a hospital, and I’m sure I’m not alone on that. It’s also crazy expensive in the United States, so many of us try to avoid hospitals to avoid medical bills that take years to pay off. On the other hand, if you choose to go into the medical field, you will spend the majority of your lifetime within the walls of a hospital, or medical office, and you likely enjoy that environment.

Whatever the case may be, it’s only natural that we all want access to the best hospital programs, and doctors out there, so we can receive the best care. These days, almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer. As cancer can be such a vicious disease, the best hospitals in the world for cancer treatment (and others) have doctors working tirelessly every day to find a cure. Some of these hospitals include the UCLA Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Mayo Clinic. These top-notch hospitals also found their spots on the list of best hospitals in the world in 2015 as well as the best hospitals in the world in 2016. It’s safe to say, they will have no problem getting on the 2017 list.

While, on many lists we took a look at, the majority of the top hospitals in the world call the United States home, there are a few top programs in other parts of the world. Some of the top 10 hospitals in Asia include the Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital in Taipei, and the Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Both are ranked amongst the world’s top hospitals and the Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital is arguably the best hospital in Asia in 2016 and beyond, as it finds itself at the top of most lists. Europe also has their world-ranking medical centers like the Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris and the University Clinic Heidelberg, which come in as some of the best hospitals in Europe and the world. All the hospitals we’ve mentioned will undoubtedly find their spots on most, if not all, of the lists recognizing the best hospitals in the world in 2017.

Many of the hospitals we’ve mentioned are residents of medical cities around the world. Medical cities, as the term would imply, refers to cities known for high-quality medical treatments, high technology hospital facilities, and the best healthcare systems and programs. These cities are usually sought after for the treatments and procedures that only they can provide. Many times these cities are also where the best doctors are and where medical attention is undivided and intensive. It might cost more than in other cities, but the treatments are believed and proven to be worth it. Some of the cities on our list also qualify as the Best Cities with the Most Healthcare Jobs in 2017.

To determine the medical cities in the world, we relied on information from Business Insider, Top Masters in Health Care, and the American Hospital Directory. We took every city that appeared in all sources and then averaged their rankings from all sources. We also factored in the number of medical facilities, in each city we have on the list, which is how we ranked our list. At the top of our list you will find the city with the most hospitals.

Continue reading to find out if you live in one of the best medical cities in the world.

15. South Wales, UK

Number of medical facilities: 100+

South Wales might not have as much as hospitals as all the other cities on the list, but its few hospitals sure belong to the best ones and the most popular ones in the world. Vale Hospital, in particular, is famous for being one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in Britain. They also have other popular hospitals for having lower mortality rates among others, including Kingston Hospital NHS Trust.

14. Hamburg, Germany

Number of medical facilities: 170+

While Hamburg might not have as many hospitals as the other cities on our list of best medical cities in the world, it takes pride on one of its best ones, Asklepios Klinik Barmbek. It is operated by Europe’s biggest private hospital network, and also one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the world. Other popular hospitals in Hamburg include Kath. Marienkrankenhaus and Ev. Krankenhaus Alsterdorf.

13. Singapore

Number of medical facilities: 220+

Technically, Singapore is a country. However, its very small land area resembles that of a city. Adding to its qualification to the list is its reputation for having most technologically advanced hospitals. More and more people from different sides of the world see Singapore as their go-to place to avail complex medical procedures and treatments. Their best hospitals include Gleneagles Medical Center, Raffles Medical Hospital, and Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

12. Bristol, UK

Number of medical facilities: 270+

The United Kingdom is as popular as the United States when it comes to health care and medical technology. This also explains why Bristol is a rightful part of the list of best medical cities in the world. With almost 300 hospitals in the city, there is no doubt Bristol is one of the best cities to go to when seeking for high technology and high-quality hospital treatment. They have the Southmead Hospital, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, and North Bristol NHS Trust, among others.

11. West Yorkshire, UK

Number of medical facilities: 280+

This city in the UK is known for having many hospitals, most of which have state-of-the-art facilities. These medical centers boast high-quality treatments and procedures, and their doctors are also among the best and the brightest in the world. It’s no wonder why they belong in this list. Their top hospitals include St. James’ Institute of Oncology/Leeds Cancer Centre and St. James University Hospital.

10. Cleveland, Ohio

Number of medical facilities: 510+

Recently, Ohio has been gaining popularity for its growing economy and thriving business industry. In connection with that, it has also been recognized for its top medical facilities. Most lists include the prestigious Cleveland Clinic as the best one in the U.S. It’s no doubt then that Cleveland is one of the best medical cities in the world.

9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Number of medical facilities: 520+

If you check articles on the internet on where to study medicine and complete residency, Pennsylvania will always be a consistent candidate. This state boasts of top medical universities and hospitals to train future physicians, which also makes it a great medical city to get treated. Among their popular hospitals include the University of Pittsburgh Medical Hospital and St. Clair Hospital.

8. Stanford, California

Number of medical facilities: 520+

California is one of the best states to be a doctor and to find a doctor, for sure. Stanford is just one of the cities in California where you can expect premium healthcare services and medical treatments. It has over 500 hospitals believed to offer the best treatments you can get around the country. Some of their best hospitals include Stanford Hospital & Clinics,  Stanford Health Care, and Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

7. London, UK

Number of medical facilities: 540+

We are continuing our list of best medical cities in the world with London, city known all over the world for its picturesque landscapes and beautiful architecture. It is also among the cities with the highest demands for nurses and doctors, which makes it suitable for this list. It has over 500 hospitals, almost all of them having up to date medical technology for treatments. Among their best hospitals include Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital, Royal London Hospital, and Royal Brompton Hospital.

6. Baltimore, Maryland

Number of medical facilities: 570+

Not only does Baltimore have high technology hospital facilities, but their medical universities are also proven to be among the best in the world. Baltimore is home to the reputable Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center, and Mercy Medical Center.

5. Bangkok, Thailand

Number of medical facilities: 1000+

With over 1,000 hospitals serving all surrounding cities, the competition is tight, making every medical center level up their medical technology and hospital facilities in Bangkok, next in line on our list of best medical cities in the world. Their most known hospitals include Ramkhamhaeng Hospital, Bumrungrad International Hospital, Wattanosoth Cancer Hospital, and The Bangkok General Hospital.

4. Boston, Massachusetts

Number of medical facilities: 1100+

Like Maryland, Boston in Massachusetts is also known for being among the top choices in terms of taking up a medicine program and completing a residency. Those facts also go to show how competitive their hospitals are when it comes to medical treatments and hospital facilities. Their best hospitals include Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham & Women’s Hospital, among others.

3. Houston, Texas

Number of medical facilities: 1600+

Texas, in general, has been making quite a buzz lately with all its recent developments on business and economy. Now we can see that there have been huge improvements in their medical industry as well. With such a large number of medical facilities in Houston, the number three on our list of best medical cities in the world , plenty of which are considered to be among the best ones in the country and the world, it’s no wonder people see it as their go-to place when it comes to getting treatments. Their top medical centers include Houston Methodist Hospital and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

2. Mountain View, California

Number of medical facilities: 2700+

It looks like The Golden State isn’t just ‘golden’ in terms of economy and business. It has also been known for its technologically advanced hospitals, the most advanced proudly located in Mountain View. The world-renowned El Camino Hospital, along with Sequoia Hospital – Dignity Health and Mountain View Healthcare Center, are just a couple of the great medical centers in Mountain View.

1. Los Angeles, California

Number of medical facilities: 5600+

Not only is Los Angeles among the best places to get treated, it is also a consistent candidate for the best places to study medicine and participate in a residency program. There are so many hospitals and medical centers in Los Angeles, which means there is no shortage in treatments and medical technology. You have a lot of options when it comes to getting treatments. Among their top hospitals include UCLA Medical Center, Monterey Park Hospital, and LAC+USC Medical Center.

If you or anyone you know might one day have to get any complex medical treatment, make sure to find a hospital in any of the best medical cities in the world.