Esthetic Planet Joins EHMTA, Advancing Patient Safety and European Standards in Global Medical Tourism
Updated on October 27, 2026 · Esthetic Planet editorial team
What is the European Health and Medical Tourism Association (EHMTA)?
EHMTA is a non‑profit association that brings together governments, clinics, travel agencies and other stakeholders across Europe. Its aim is to develop common guidelines, promote patient safety and ensure transparent pricing and quality information for medical tourists.
How does the membership benefit patients of Esthetic Planet?
By aligning with EHMTA’s standards, Esthetic Planet can:
- Encourage partner clinics to follow recognised safety protocols.
- Provide clearer information about the care pathway, from initial consultation to post‑treatment follow‑up.
- Support a transparent pricing environment while respecting local regulations.
- Offer patients an added layer of confidence that the providers meet European‑wide quality criteria.
What role does Esthetic Planet play after joining EHMTA?
Esthetic Planet remains a coordination platform. It does not provide medical treatment itself, but it:
- Connects patients with vetted clinics and surgeons across Turkey, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Tunisia and other destinations.
- Facilitates communication between patients and providers before, during and after the procedure.
- Helps patients understand their options, costs and travel logistics.
- Works with partner clinics to continuously improve preparation, communication and follow‑through for international patients.
What does this mean for your upcoming treatment?
If you are planning a cosmetic, dental, hair‑transplant or eye‑surgery procedure abroad, the EHMTA membership adds an extra assurance that Esthetic Planet’s partners are encouraged to meet recognised European safety and quality standards. The final treatment plan will still be decided by the surgeon after a personal consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Will joining EHMTA change the cost of my treatment?
The membership does not affect pricing set by the individual clinics or surgeons. Prices remain transparent and are presented from the quoted amount by each provider.
Does EHMTA membership guarantee a successful outcome?
No. EHMTA focuses on safety, standards and transparency. The surgeon decides which treatment is suitable after a detailed consultation.
How does this membership improve my safety abroad?
EHMTA promotes common safety protocols and quality checks. Esthetic Planet encourages its partners to adopt these guidelines, helping to reduce risks associated with cross‑border care.
Will I receive more support before travelling for my procedure?
Yes. The platform will continue to provide detailed information on preparation, travel logistics and post‑treatment follow‑up, now backed by EHMTA’s best‑practice recommendations.
Can I still choose a clinic outside the EHMTA network?
You are free to choose any clinic, but Esthetic Planet recommends those that align with EHMTA standards for greater confidence in safety and quality.
What should I do if I have concerns about a provider’s compliance?
Contact Esthetic Planet’s patient support team. They will verify the provider’s adherence to EHMTA guidelines and help you find an alternative if needed.
Ready to explore safe, high‑quality medical tourism options? Get my free quote
Esthetic Planet joined EHMTA
Paris, April 2026. Esthetic Planet, the international medical tourism coordination platform connecting patients across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia with a curated network of partner clinics and surgeons, today announced its formal membership of the European Health and Medical Tourism Association (EHMTA), headquartered at ehmta.eu.
The membership marks a significant milestone in Esthetic Planet's mission to help patients access elective and specialised medical care beyond their home borders, safely, transparently, and with full awareness of their options. As a coordination platform, Esthetic Planet's role is to facilitate, inform, and advocate: working alongside its provider network to ensure that clinics, surgeons, and care teams continuously raise their standards for the international patients they serve.
"Joining EHMTA reflects the work we do every day alongside our provider network, pushing clinics, surgeons, and care teams to raise the bar for cross-border patients. As a coordination platform, our role is to facilitate, inform, and advocate: helping our partners deliver the level of preparation, communication, and follow-through that international patients truly deserve."
Pierre Hollenbeck, Founder, Esthetic Planet
EHMTA is a non-profit European association dedicated to promoting excellence in health and medical tourism marketing, establishing shared best practices among facilitators, clinics, and allied professionals, and amplifying the voice of patients navigating cross-border healthcare systems. Membership requires a commitment to ethical conduct, quality assurance, and ongoing participation in the advancement of industry standards.
For Esthetic Planet and its global partner network, covering Istanbul and Antalya, Tunis, Budapest, Bangkok, Barcelona, and beyond, alignment with EHMTA translates into stronger support for the providers it works with. This means facilitating access to accredited and peer-reviewed partner clinics, encouraging continuous improvement in pre- and post-operative care coordination at the provider level, and developing digital tools that reduce friction and information gaps for health travellers and the medical professionals managing their cases.
Patient Safety
Facilitating access to rigorously vetted partner clinics and encouraging informed consent and pre-travel screening standards across the provider network.
European Excellence
Promoting European clinical benchmarks and accreditation standards to partner clinics and patients across every region we serve.
Cross-Border Advocacy
Helping patients and providers navigate EU cross-border healthcare directives, prior authorisation processes, and insurance reimbursement pathways.
Digital Tools
Building AI-assisted platforms and structured workflows that make health travel clearer and more efficient for patients and medical professionals.
One of the most pressing challenges in medical tourism today remains the complex landscape of cross-border healthcare legislation. The European Union's Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (Directive 2011/24/EU) grants patients the right to seek treatment in another member state and claim partial reimbursement. Yet in practice, administrative complexity, lack of standardised documentation, and inconsistent interpretation by national health authorities leave many patients without the refunds to which they may be entitled.
Through its involvement with EHMTA, Esthetic Planet will contribute to the development of resources, educational materials, and advocacy positions that help both patients and the medical professionals managing their cases navigate this landscape more confidently. This includes clearer guidance on prior authorisation procedures, support in gathering the documentation providers need for insurance pre-approval, and practical information on applicable reimbursement frameworks under national implementations of the directive.
The partnership also reflects a broader vision shared by Esthetic Planet and EHMTA: that medical tourism, when facilitated responsibly, broadens access to high-quality healthcare. Patients who face long waiting lists, limited specialist availability, or prohibitive domestic costs can explore world-class treatment options safely and with full transparency about what to expect at every stage of their journey.
"We are proud to welcome Esthetic Planet to the EHMTA family. Their commitment to technology-driven patient coordination, ethical facilitation, and European clinical benchmarks is precisely the standard our association exists to champion and promote globally."
EHMTA Board, European Health and Medical Tourism Association Looking ahead, Esthetic Planet will participate in EHMTA working groups focused on insurance interoperability, digital health record portability for international patients, and the creation of shared best-practice frameworks. This is infrastructure that benefits the entire ecosystem of providers, facilitators, and patients engaging in cross-border care.
For the clinics, surgeons, and allied professionals in Esthetic Planet's network, EHMTA membership represents a quality signal and a shared commitment. It is not merely a certification, but an ongoing invitation to evolve alongside an industry that owes its patients nothing less than continuous improvement.
About Esthetic Planet · Esthetic Planet is a Paris-based medical tourism coordination platform founded by Pierre Hollenbeck, connecting international patients with a curated network of partner clinics and surgeons across Turkey, Tunisia, Hungary, Thailand, Spain, and beyond. The platform combines personalised patient coordination with AI-powered communication tools to deliver transparent and informed care journeys. esthetic-planet.com
About EHMTA · The European Health and Medical Tourism Association is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting excellence, ethical standards, and patient advocacy in the European health and medical tourism sector. ehmta.eu