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Medical Tourism in Developing Countries

Medical Tourism in Developing Countries

Medical Tourism in Developing Countries

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42 ● <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong> Develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Countries</strong>hop<strong>in</strong>g to experience <strong>in</strong> less developed countries? We assume they are rationalconsumers who voluntarily partake <strong>in</strong> foreign health care, although wecannot make assumptions about their proximate motivations. There arepush and pull factors that need to be explored, as medical tourism is rarelyjust about cost sav<strong>in</strong>gs. Alternatively we question whether they fell ill whilethey were <strong>in</strong> a develop<strong>in</strong>g country (on bus<strong>in</strong>ess or pleasure), or whetherthey traveled specifically for medical care. Understand<strong>in</strong>g who medical touristsare, where they come from, and what determ<strong>in</strong>es their demand is crucialfor nurtur<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>dustry, guid<strong>in</strong>g its future expansion, and understand<strong>in</strong>gits potential for growth <strong>in</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g countries. In other words, understand<strong>in</strong>gdemand for medical tourism will clarify its possible role as a lead<strong>in</strong>gsector <strong>in</strong> economic development.This tourist demand does not exist <strong>in</strong> isolation and cannot <strong>in</strong>dependentlyrealize the <strong>in</strong>dustry potential. As with any market, the supply ofmedical tourism must complement demand s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>in</strong> the absence of either,there can be no transaction or exchange. Supply, discussed <strong>in</strong> chapter 4,complements this chapter <strong>in</strong>sofar as together they cover the entire market.The Services <strong>in</strong> Demand<strong>Medical</strong> tourists <strong>in</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g countries consume services <strong>in</strong> two sectors,health care and tourism. While overlapp<strong>in</strong>g, these sectors are neverthelessdist<strong>in</strong>ct.<strong>Medical</strong> ServicesThe breadth of medical tourism is grow<strong>in</strong>g only one step beh<strong>in</strong>d providers’imag<strong>in</strong>ations. Creative services that compete <strong>in</strong> novelty, quality, and relevanceare popp<strong>in</strong>g up daily. International patients seek services rang<strong>in</strong>gfrom surgery to massage, recuperation to exercise. They purchase moderndiagnostic medic<strong>in</strong>e such as bone density tests as well as traditional heal<strong>in</strong>gsuch as acupuncture. They seek out Transplant <strong>Tourism</strong> that <strong>in</strong>volves travel<strong>in</strong>gto countries for the purposes of obta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g an organ. Pregnancy <strong>Tourism</strong>also takes place, as when women travel to give birth where their child canreceive a coveted citizenship (such as the United States or Ireland).Orthodontal or Toothache <strong>Tourism</strong> happens for dental work, while Fast<strong>in</strong>g<strong>Tourism</strong> is popular among the obese, and Science <strong>Tourism</strong> among the scientists.3 Detox tourism occurs when patients from Islamic countries havealcohol related problems: They seek to cure <strong>in</strong>cognito. 4 There is evenSuicide <strong>Tourism</strong>, namely travel<strong>in</strong>g to countries where liberal policies oneuthanasia allow an ail<strong>in</strong>g patient to choose their time of death. 5

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