Medical Tourism is the idea that patients travel from more developed countries especially from UK, Canada and United States to less developed countries like Malaysia, Thailand and India. Most patients with chronic ailments come to these countries because the cost of healthcare can be much cheaper than that at home. Other medical tourists also go to other countries for treatment because they are accommodated much quickly, versus remaining in their home country would mean waiting for months before a surgery can be carried out. A classic example of this is Britain with its National Health Services (NHS).
An example of the cost benefit of medical tourism can be seen by comparing the cost for angioplasty in the United States that is around $47,000. This same procedure can be done in Thailand for US$6,400 and in India for US$4,600.
Many patients that go for medical tourism also go sight seeing in that country as part of rehabilitation therapy. Many of the tourist destinations sell themselves as both medical tourism sites and relaxation sites. Medical Tourism is a combination of low cost procedures and a sight seeing gateway. Although medical tourism does not fit the traditional definition of outsourcing, it still moves services to other countries due to their low cost advantage.
This is a BBC article on Medical Tourism:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2524665.stm
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1 comment:
I had never heard of this concept. Even though it is cheaper to go to places like Thailand or India...is the procedure going to be performed as well and is it as safe to go there and do it? If it is just as good as getting it done in the US it would be cool to get the procedure and go on vacation in Thailand for less then staying in the US and doing it.
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