The cost and the organisation of the trip
A medical stay is not just a hospital bill. Here is how to read a quote, what it often leaves out, and how we are paid.
● A PRADeXPERIENCE service · fee quoted in advance, no commission
We do not give indicative pricing. Here is why.
An approximate figure for the cost of a procedure helps no one: it falsely reassures, or it falsely frightens. The only figure that matters is the quote drawn up by the establishment after examining your medical file. Our job is to obtain it quickly, and to help you read it.
What we can announce in advance, however, is our own fee. It is fixed, in writing, and known before you commit.
What we are not
Okoumé is not a health facility and does not employ any health professionals. We do not make any diagnoses, recommend any treatments or advise on the course of action to take. These decisions belong to doctors — yours in Gabon, and the one who will treat you in South Africa. Our work is organisation: procedures, logistics, language and coordination between the two.
The four elements of a residential care stay
Care
A quote drawn up by the hospital following a review of your case. You pay this directly to the hospital; we never act as an intermediary.
The stay
Flights, accommodation suitable for convalescence, transfers, catering. For the patient as well as for the companions.
The procedures
Patient and companion visas, professional translations, administrative fees.
Our fee
A fixed amount for the organisation, announced in advance and identical regardless of the chosen establishment.
How to read a hospital estimate
A South African hospital quote is generally precise about what it covers, and silent about what it does not. These are the questions that must be asked expressly, and we ask them for you.
| Question to ask | Why |
|---|---|
| Are practitioners' fees included? | Surgeon, anaesthetist and other practitioners often bill separately from the facility. |
| What happens in the event of an extended hospital stay? | This is the item that derails a budget the most. Ask for the daily rate beyond the scheduled duration. |
| Are the additional tests included? | Imaging, biology and anatomopathology can be added during the stay. |
| Are discharge medication included? | Often not, and over a long treatment the difference is significant. |
| Is rehabilitation planned? | Physiotherapy and post-operative monitoring frequently fall under separate billing. |
| What are the payment terms and deadlines? | Deposit before admission, balance upon discharge: international bank transfer times must be anticipated. |
Allow some leeway. A hospital stay can be prolonged and a care plan can be revised along the way. In a context where a treatment cannot be interrupted due to a lack of funds, a budget calculated to the bare minimum is a dangerous budget.
What needs to be planned beyond care
| Postbox | To be anticipated |
|---|---|
| Flights | Return journey for the patient and each accompanying person. A postponed return costs more than a changeable ticket. |
| Accommodation | Suitable for convalescence and close to the establishment: accessibility, cooking, quiet. Not a tourist hotel. |
| Transfers | Airport, hospital, follow-up consultations. To be arranged for the entire duration of the stay. |
| Interpreting | For consultations and admission. Understanding what is said to you is not a luxury. |
| Daily life | Tailored nutrition, communications, unexpected events, for the patient and carers. |
| Translations | Charged per document by specialist translators. To be engaged early. |
| Visas | Government and filing centre fees, for the patient and each accompanying person separately. |
The most commonly forgotten item is the carers' stay. A family that plans for three weeks for the patient rarely plans three weeks of accommodation, meals and transport for the person staying at their bedside.
What you pay us, and what you don't pay us
| Okoumé | |
|---|---|
| Our remuneration | One organisation fee, paid for by the family, announced in writing before any commitment. |
| Does it vary by establishment? | No. It is identical regardless of the hospital or practitioner chosen. |
| Do we receive a commission from the service providers? | No. None, in any form. South African ethics forbid it, and we would not solicit any. |
| Do we hold the funds intended for healthcare? | No. You pay the property directly. |
| What does the fee cover? | The organisation: file management, translation coordination, institutional research, visas, logistics, on-site presence, follow-up upon return. |
| What does it not cover? | Medical care, flights, accommodation, translations and visa fees, which are actual expenses paid to their service providers. |
This strict separation is what enables us to tell you honestly when a trip is not justified, or when a budget is unsustainable. We have nothing to gain from you going away.
CFA francs and rands
The CFA franc is pegged to the euro at a fixed parity. The South African rand is a floating currency, the exchange rate of which varies significantly.
Practical consequence: a quote converted into CFA francs at the daily rate may no longer match at the time of payment, in either direction. For hospital amounts, the difference is not insignificant.
Anticipate the international transfer times, which are counted in working days and not in hours. A bank transfer sent the day before an admission arrives after. We provide you with the deadlines as soon as the quote is drawn up.
Go further
- Choose the hospital and the specialist — where does the quote come from
- Medical treatment visa — proof of funds to be arranged
- Medical file and translation — Without a complete file, no reliable quote
What the organisation covers
A single fee, quoted in advance, for the entire journey.
- Request and analysis of the hospital estimate
- Questions asked to the establishment regarding what is included and excluded
- Estimate of the total budget for the trip, including accompanying persons
- Accommodation suitable for convalescence, close to the facility
- Flights, transfers and interpreting during the stay
- Payment schedule and banking deadlines
A well-known price before committing
Families looking for care abroad are vulnerable, and this is precisely the moment when price opacity does the most damage. Our fee is written, fixed and communicated before any commitment.
- No commissionNothing is paid to us by hospitals or doctors.
- Fixed feeIdentical regardless of the institution chosen.
- Without holding fundsYou settle the care costs directly with the establishment.
Good to know
How much does treatment cost in South Africa?
How is Okoumé paid?
Does Okoumé cover medical expenses?
What does a hospital estimate not cover?
Should we allow for a budget contingency?
Is the exchange rate an issue?
Would you like to know what that would come to?
The initial consultation is free and without obligation. We will tell you what we can achieve, in what timeframe, and at what organisational cost.
