Medical tourism is a thriving multibillion-dollar industry. The reasons for traveling such great distances for medical care are driven by many factors that play an integral role in shaping the health care system. The following highlights issues and trends surrounding medical tourism and how these forces influence US health care.
Medical Tourism- The Health Care Trend of Medical Outsourcing
1. Medical tourism is a thriving multibillion-
dollar industry. The affordability of
international travel, coupled with the
availability of information technology has
made it possible to not only plan for a trip to
see the Taj Mahal, but to also squeeze in
some time to get a tummy tuck as well. The
reasons for traveling such great distances
for medical care are driven by many factors
that play an integral role in shaping the
health care system. The following highlights
issues and trends surrounding medical
tourism and how these forces influence US
health care.
Financial influence is the primary factor
contributing to the growth of medical tourism.
Prices for treatments and surgeries in foreign
hospitals are considerably lower than the same
procedures performed in the US (Bies &
Zacharia, 2007). Foreign facilities that cater to
medical tourists typically offer rates as
packaged prices that cover all the costs of
treatment, including physician and hospital fees,
airfare, and lodging as well.
Medical tourism unlocks the potential for
increased global competition and efficiency
on American health care. It opens up
opportunities for American and foreign health
care providers to collaborate, coordinating
their combined efforts to improve all aspects
of medical treatment. To survive in the global
environment, US health care must reform to
compete to offer consumers more choices for
affordable quality care.
Trends Process ImpactIntroduction
Background
Conclusion
Medical Tourism: The health care trend of medical outsourcing
Marwah Zagzoug
Department of Graduate Programs in Health Sciences
Countries Promoting Medical Tourism
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$100,000.00
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Medical Procedure Costs in Selected Countries
US India Thailand Singapore
Globalization is eliminating domestic
limitations in quality, access, and affordability.
Increasing integration and interdependence
of nations and regions has resulted in a
rapidly growing international market for
health care services. Medical travel is now a
viable option for avoiding long hospital
waiting lists and gaining access to medical
technology that may be unavailable or
unaffordable in the home country.
Patient in need
of treatment
Has time or
money
constraints
Choose medical
tourist agent
Make contact
with doctors at
medical tourist
destination
Exchange
information and
decide on
medical package
Travel to
destination, get
treated & enjoy
vacation
Travel back to
home region
Get follow-up
care locally or
advice from
foreign doctor
End of process
References
Economic
Factors
•Packaged pricing including
hospital fees, airfare, and lodging
•Foreign rates significantly lower
than US rates
•Price transparency & less cost
shifting
Industrialization
•Business model emphasis on
affordability, quality reliability,
accreditation, and overseas training.
•Foreign facilities absorbing Western
protocols
•Strategic focus combining
personalized service of hotel
industry with streamlined efficiency
of auto industry
Technology
•Access to cutting edge medicine
and state-of-the-art technology.
•Easy online access to medical
tourism information portals
•Online communities exchange info
on foreign providers, experience,
pricing, patient satisfaction
Political Factors
•Governments see significant
monetary potential
•Support for campaigns promoting
the region as medical tourism
destinations
•Countries find advantages in
specialization.
Driving Factors of Medical Tourism
Bies, W., & Zacharia, L. (2007). Medical tourism:
Outsourcing surgery. Mathematical and Computer
Modelling, 46(7-8), 1144-1159.
Connell, J. (2006). Medical tourism: Sea, sun, sand and…
surgery. Tourism Management, 27, 1093-1100.
Johnson, T. J., & Garman, A. N. (2010). Impact of medical
travel on imports and exports of medical services.
Health Policy, 98(2-3), 171-177.
Collaboration
between US and
foreign medical
providers
Provide medical
services remotely
by telemedicine
Network and
establish
partnerships and
affiliations with
foreign hospitals
Lower costs of
some medical
procedures
Pros Providing treatment
to tourists & local
elite while
exclusion local poor
population
Increased
malpractice risk
with non-regulated
or unproven new
treatments
“brain drain”
shortage of
qualified personnel
opting to practice
elsewhere
Ethical and legal
implications (i.e.,
fertility tourism,
stem cell, organ
trafficking, and
euthanasia)
Cons