Medical Tourism in Developing Countries

Offshore Doctors ● 57patient-doctor relations (Teh and Chu note the importance of cultural differencesin medical care especially among the Japanese and Koreans who, forexample, do not challenge their doctor’s opinion 64 ).A sense of cultural affinity also comes from shared language. Being ableto communicate with medical staff in one’s native tongue is reassuring and,as a result, patients are drawn to countries where their language is spokenand past colonial ties still beckon. Indeed, the British go to India, Americansto the Philippines, Spaniards to Cuba, and Saudi Arabians to Jordan.Religion is sometimes a factor in determining cultural affi nity.International patients may choose a destination according to its dominantreligion. In this way, Jordan attracts Muslims from the Middle East, andlately Malaysia has stepped up its efforts to attract patients from Islamiccountries. These efforts include assurances that patients will receive sensitivetreatment with respect to their religious observances such as prayers andfood. 65 Incidentally, religion may also be a deterrent for some internationalpatients who worry it might dominate their medical tourism experience.Medical establishments often reassure potential patients that they areembracing of all religions (for example, the Christian Medical College andHospital in Vellore, India, promotes its 1,700 bed complex as an interdenominationalcommunity that is tolerant of diversity).Some international patients feel cultural affinity for a region even if theyhave no roots there and do not speak the language. Perhaps they have traveledthere in the past and are comfortable in that environment.When there is no cultural affinity, promoters of medical tourism will tryto create it. Bumrungrad Hospital in Thailand for example, has built aculturally compatible wing for Middle East patients to make them feelcomfortable. They hired additional Arabic interpreters, they built a newkitchen to offer religiously acceptable food, and they purchased manyMuslim prayer rugs. 66 Malaysia has developed the Feel At Home Programfor West Asian tourists that includes Arabic and Middle Eastern food,songs, and dances. Similarly, the International Medical Centre in Bangkokprovides Japanese patients with a special wing, paying particular attentionto religious, cultural, and dietary restrictions of its clientele. 67DistanceIn medical tourism as in the real estate business, three considerations areimportant: location, location, and location. Medical tourists travel to particularfacilities or countries in part because of where they are located.Proximity is among the most important geographical features. Clearly peopleare willing to travel to receive medical care. If they were not, the industrywould not be expanding. The question is, just how far will they travel?