Medical Tourism in Developing Countries

Offshore Doctors ● 61The Internet is undoubtedly the most important tool for information,both by consumers as well as suppliers of medical tourism. Its potential toreach a large number of people is huge. Use of the Internet is growinglogarithmically and globally. 86 In 2004, Internet users worldwide numbered945 million but that number is expected to rise to 1.46 billion by 2007.Most of that rise is coming from LDCs, especially India and China. Therehas undoubtedly been an information revolution. Internet commerce is onthe rise, and that includes medical tourism. Quite simply, the Internet hasopened the doors to medical tourism in developing countries. Throughtechnology, information is disseminated about the medical and tourist possibilities(a process that might be referred to as a googleoscopy). Just likethe Internet is the primary source of medical information for patients,enabling them to self-diagnose and self-treat, so too, it is the primary sourceof information about facilities and procedures, enabling them to choose adestination site for their medical needs. At the same time, travelers are takingover from travel agents and getting on the Internet to create their owntrips. Both health-care and hospitality industries are benefiting from theInternet and, both, are fueled by a decentralization of decision making bythe consumers.The Internet is also used by health-care providers to advertise their services.Sources in LDCs have jumped at the possibility of its use as it helpskeep their marketing costs down (they may or may not supplement theirmarketing with more expensive advertising). The government of Malaysiahas launched a website in 2006 to promote its services. 87 In Cuba, theInternet is the only way to reach the U.S. market given prohibitions associatedwith sanctions. Cubanacan (abbreviation for the Cuban health andtourism organization, Cubanacan Turismo y Salud) and SERVIMED (aspecialized trading company founded in 1994 for medical tourism), advertisemedical holiday packages on the INFOMED portal (the Cubannational health care telecommunications network and portal). 88The range of websites offering medical tourism information is astounding.Many are general. For example, medicaltourism.com offers 31 locationsin India, 8 in South America, 6 in the Middle East and Africa, 17 inSoutheast Asia, 21 in Europe, and 5 in other destinations (Fall 2005). Someare organized geographically, either by country or larger region. For example,ArabMedicare.com is the main source of online health information forthe Arab-speaking world. 89 It is a point of reference for countries such asJordan, Malaysia, Thailand, and India. It provides information aboutmedical facilities and medical treatment packages and it helps potentialpatients work their way around insurance companies and health-care providers.ArabMedicare.com has begun talks with government health agencies,