This document discusses medical tourism, which is when people travel internationally to obtain medical care. Common treatments received include dental, cosmetic, and elective surgeries. Over 50 countries have identified medical tourism as a national industry. Reasons for medical tourism include lower costs, shorter wait times, and the ability to combine treatment with travel. Popular destinations include India, Thailand, Singapore, and Turkey. The document also outlines some of the benefits, risks, and statistics associated with medical tourism.

2. INTRODUCTION

Medical tourism is when consumers elect to travel
across international borders with the intention of
receiving some form of medical treatment.

This treatment may span the full range of medical
services, but most commonly includes dental care,
cosmetic surgery, elective surgery, and fertility
treatment.

Also called :
o Medical travel
o Health tourism
o Global healthcare

3. 
Over 50 countries have identified medical
tourism as a national industry.

Overseas surgery - safe and viable option
healthcare in the United States and Canada.

4. Reasons for Medical
Travel:

Long waiting lists for surgery in countries offering
socialized healthcare

Ease and affordability of international travel

Favorable currency exchange rates in foreign
countries resulting in low cost surgery

5. 
Rapidly improving technology and standards of
care in many countries

Proven safety of healthcare in select foreign
nations

U.S., U.K. and Australian board certified surgeons
operating in select foreign countries

6. 
Potential for cost savings on medical procedures

Excellent tourism infrastructure

History of healthcare innovation and achievement

Successful adoption of best practices and state-ofthe-art medical technology

Availability of internationally-trained, experienced
medical staff

7. Different types of medical
treatment.
 Cosmetic
surgery

8.  Dentistry

9.  Elective
surgery.

10.  Health
screening

11. Benefits of Medical Tourism

Lower cost of treatment

Travelers may incorporate a short holiday with treatment

Medical tourists can avail better doctors and hospital facilities
Medical tourism gives people a chance to incorporate local
therapies:
 India’s Yoga & Ayurvedic medicine
 Thai massage
 Traditional Chinese medicine & Acupuncture
 The Dead Sea bordering Jordan, Israel & Palestine

12. Thai Massage
Yoga
Ayurveda
Acupuncture

13. Ethical and Legal Implications
and Risks

Three Categories:

Infectious Diseases contracted abroad

Risks of Specific Treatments

Multiple Jurisdictions and Terms

Informed Consent

TORT Law

Increase in In-equality

Advanced Technologies

14. Most preferred Medical Tourism
destinations:
Some Examples are:

USA – One of the places having the highest levels of
medical skills and leading edge technology in the world.

South America – Countries like Brazil, Argentina are
leading countries in plastic surgery.

Singapore, Hong Kong – Highly accredited hospitals
with very high quality infrastructure.

India – Especially for heart surgery, cosmetic surgeries
and other high end surgeries. Also for traditional
medicines.

Turkey – Has more American accredited hospitals than
any other nation.

15. AYURVEDIC TREATMENT
CENTRES

Ayurvedic treatment is to tackle the root cause of ailments, rather than
simply relieving symptoms associated with the illness.

With western civilization beginning to understand the importance and
benefits of Ayurveda, there is a rush of medical tourists on their way to
hot-spots in India, undergoing extensive treatment along with a
relaxing and extended vacation.

The actual process of taking an Ayurvedic treatment course is very
simple. After a simple diagnosis, you are given a duration for the
course. The course consists of taking medicine prepared from herbs
and powders – Fully natural

The most important advantage that Ayurvedic prescriptions have
over conventional medicine is that there are absolutely no side
effects and merely corrects imbalances within your body, such as
blood sugar levels, improving circulation and cleansing the skin.

16. YOGA AND MEDITATION

Yoga is a complete knowledge of life that
originated in India before thousands of years,
even before the western world started any forms
of physical and mental exercises.

Meditation is synonymous with India and
spirituality. Meditation is the foundation of Yoga,
which involves exercises of the body and the mind
in sync with each other.

Meditation is designed to carry us beyond our
illusions and help us see and experience things in
its true and natural form.

18. STATISTICS

India : Growing Sector, growth rate at 30%

Israel : 15,000 medical tourists, $40 million
Revenue

Iran : 30,000 medical tourists each year

Jordan : 2,50,000 medical tourists, $1 billion

Costa Rica : 48,000 medical tourists each year

19.  Cuba
: 20,000 medical tourists in 2009
 USA :
85,000 tourists each year
 Turkey
: 2,00,000 patients each year
 Malaysia
: 1 million patients around the globe

21. CONCLUSION

Medical Tourism is a Growing Market

Word-wide, growing at a rate of 15-25%,
with rates highest in North, Southeast and
South Asia

One last piece of advise: Never choose your surgeon
based solely on price. You must understand all aspects
of medical travel to find the very best value...not the
lowest price.