If someone goes to another country to receive medical or dental treatment, they are participating in medical tourism. They may decide to seek medical treatment or healthcare services abroad for several different reasons. Some people do this because it is cheaper abroad while others do so. They need help finding what they need in their home country.
What is Medical Tourism?
Over the past hundred years. Medical tourism has changed dramatically in the past. Most medical tourists were from developing countries who went to highly developed countries and traveled to obtain medical care or procedures unavailable locally today.
Medical Tourism is a Huge Industry
Conversely, people from developed economies travel to emerging countries such as Mexico or Turkey. Today, medical tourism is a huge industry worth tens of billions of dollars each year, market-driven and shaped by social, economic, medical, and political factors.
According to statista.com, the global medical tourism market was worth $54.4 billion in 2020, and experts estimate that the market will grow to more than $200 billion by the end of 2027. Many people become medical tourists because of the lower cost in the other country. Especially among U.S. citizens in countries with universal health care, some people choose treatment abroad to avoid waiting lists.
A small percentage of medical tourists travel abroad because the procedure is not available in their home country, and privacy may be another factor. If you receive treatment abroad, you can choose who recognizes it.
Medical Tourism Has Been Around For a Very Long Time
The first case we know of occurred several thousand years ago when Greek pilgrims traveled to Epidoria in the Saronic Gulf, where Epidoria was a sanctuary for Asclepius, the god of healing, in the 18th century. People suffering from various diseases and conditions visited spa towns across Europe, where spa owners of the time claimed that their mineral waters had healthful qualities.
Why is Medical Tourism Promoted?
In 2021, about 3 percent of American travelers went abroad to get medical or dental care worldwide, and more than 20 million people crossed borders to get help with plastic surgery for their reproductive problems or other procedures that are not available or more expensive At home.
The best medical tourism destinations generate billions of dollars annually, so they are highly promoted and supported by local governments, making healthcare easier to obtain abroad. The travel market will only grow according to various estimates, and the compound annual growth rate of medical tourism will grow. From 11.59 percent to 12.8 percent.
The Rise of Medical Tourism
Health tourism is the process of traveling to a different country to receive medical treatment. People have been doing this for a long time. Once ancient civilizations learned about the benefits of mineral and thermal springs, they began building complexes to receive health pilgrims. For example, temples to the Greek goddess Glipius were important centers for medical advice and healing.
In the Middle Ages, the prominent hospitals and Islamic cities of Baghdad, Cordoba, and Damascus welcomed people from all over the world. They were the most advanced and sophisticated institutions of the time where patients with physical and mental illnesses could be cared for.
Why Do People Choose Medical Tourism?
Today almost every country in the world has advanced healthcare facilities and medical staff to provide adequate care, so why do people do this? They still choose to travel The first reason is lower costs More recently, as in the 20th century, patients from developing countries were going to highly developed countries to access better hospitals and trained professionals that their cities lacked.
But now the trend has been reversed with globalization and digitalization equating to quality of care but an aging world population outpacing the availability of medical resources, so people from Europe, the United States, and Australia go to Costa Rica, India, Taiwan, Turkey, Brazil, Thailand, Israel, Mexico, and Malaysia to get similar high levels of treatment at a lower price.
Medical Tourism Saves Money For People
The average American medical tourist can save about 30 percent on healthcare procedures in Brazil and up to 80 percent in Malaysia. The second reason is the accessibility and convenience that international healthcare often provides to attract medical tourists.
There are healthcare organizations in Turkey, India, South Korea, and more that offer complete medical travel packages that include, in addition to the treatment itself, airfare, transportation, health insurance, translation services, and personal assistance. In 2022, the Indian government launched the “Heels in India” campaign that allows patients to simplify Their medical trip on the portal, where people can easily find the desired treatment or hospital, apply, and prepare their travel documents.
Countries’ Interest in The Therapeutic Arena
Other countries may not be as advanced in medical tourism on a general level but investments in healthcare systems and medical tourism programs make them popular destinations. Like the governments of Turkey, Hong Kong, and India, Malaysia is investing heavily in its healthcare sectors, supporting private hospitals, and improving medical infrastructure. skilled medical workforce, and advanced technologies, making them modern healthcare centers.
Safety and quality of care are also typically ensured through international accreditation, with the most popular accreditation agency being the Joint Commission International. Ensures that international hospitals meet American standards. It has accredited more than 950 hospitals and clinics in 100 countries.
