Medical Tourism

Definition: Medical tourism refers to medical treatments which people obtain from any other countries other than their own.

It covers a wide field of health-oriented,tourism ranging from preventive and health- conductive treatment to rehabilitational forms of travel.

History:-

• First recorded instance- Greek pilgrims travelled to a small area in the Saronic gulf called Epidauria,the sanctuary of the healing God,Asklepis.

• Spa towns and santaria were early form of medical tourism.

• With the downfall of the Roman Civilization Asia continued to be the prime medical tourism destination.

• Temples gave way to hospitals.

• Medical tourism flourished during the Renaissance period.

Causes:-

• People from developed countries travel to developing countries for low priced medical treatments.

• Medical services unavailable or illegal in the home country

• Patients with rare diseases travel to countries where these are better understood.

• For treatment in the field of psychiatry, alternative medicine ,covalescent- care and even burial services.

Effects:-

• Higher prices for health-care services potentially generate more foreign revenue for the country.

• Foreigners demand for healthcare services could undermine local patients access to quality health care.

• People with modest incomes become more dependent on the universal health care coverage scheme.

• Adverse situation of both a shortage of physicians and increased medical fees for self- paying.

• Medical tourists from developed nations pay less while those from underdeveloped nations get better medical facilities.

• Hospitals for medical tourists are likely to lure many highly skilled physicians and specialists out of public hospitals.

Limitations:-

• The country one go to may not regulate professional licensing and certification of the medical professionals.

• One might end of travelling too soon after a surgery and this causes serious complications like blood clots or pulmonary embolism.

• In case something goes wrong,there is very little legal recourse.

• Post operative care is minimum and limited.

Solutions:

Certified foreign physicians are to be allowed by the government to foreign patients without a medical certification exam in the native language.

• Increase in medical staff training in public universities.

• Collaboration with private hospitals in saving more specialists.

• Revenue from tax to be allowed for expansion of training of physicians and other medical staff.

• Increase salaries to retain the best professors in public medical school.

• Taxes could be used to mitigate the adveerse effect of the extra demand for health care services.

Reasons for choosing India as a medical tourism destination:-

• Lower cost

• Rich cultural heritage

• World class quality

• Personalized services

• Less waiting time.

The medical tourism is going through an important phase where alongside international activities,intra regional travels are also taking place.