Medical Tourism in Developing Countries

12 ● Medical Tourism in Developing CountriesA few words are warranted about method. Although this book observesmedical tourism in general, some ten developing countries have beenselected for study. Given that medical tourism is a new field, there are noreliable and comparable statistics available for these (or any other) countries.Numerous scholars have commented on this problem. Wasserman, in writingabout medical tourism, states, “Just how extensive such trade is in mostcountries, to what degree it is part of deliberate trade strategies, how muchleakage occurs, and other clear-cut data are difficult to ascertain [italicsmine].” 52 Frechtling pointed out that because researchers have neglectedhealth tourism, empirical studies are limited and there are no statistical dataon which to draw. 53 Lastly, Chanda noted that most available informationabout health tourism is anecdotal in nature and data must be patchedtogether from existing sources. 54 Despite the above data constraints, thisstudy strives to be empirical and relies on data presented by private sectorindustry studies. It also uses World Bank statistics as well as those of otherinternational organizations such as WHO, UNWTO, and UNCTAD.Moreover, personal communications with representatives of the health-caretourist sector proved invaluable. Visits to hospitals that attract foreign touristsas well as on-site interviews with industry and government leaders werehelpful in defining what is and what is not medical tourism. Finally, thisbook also relied on media reports that have become visibly more extensiveas research progressed.Introduction to Developing Countries Pursuing Medical TourismWhich developing countries are the most successful promoters of medicaltourism?Is it those with the most developed tourist industries? No. The grossdomestic product (GDP) derived from travel and tourism is enormous incountries such as Antigua and Barbuda (82 percent). 55 However, these arecountries to which Western tourists travel for pristine beaches, but not formedical care.Is it those with the highest economic growth rates? No. At the beginningof the new millennium, many developing countries experienced unprecedentedeconomic growth. One African country, Botswana, had the highestrate of economic growth in the world in 2002. 56 India’s economy expandedby 8.2 percent in 2003, 57 and China is said to have supplanted the UnitedStates as the capitalist engine of the world. 58 But while India is at the forefrontof medical tourism, China has few facilities and Botswana has none.Is it those most endowed with precious resources? No. Diamonds, oil,and gold have rarely brought development to third world populations nor