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Cotton M, Shalabi HT, Shalabi ST. Surgical tourism in low- and middle-income countries: Current Status and the impact on the poor. Trop Doct 2024; 54:1-3. [PMID: 37981795 DOI: 10.1177/00494755231213738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
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2
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Zeng L, Li RYM, Zeng H. Weibo users and Academia's foci on tourism safety: Implications from institutional differences and digital divide. Heliyon 2023; 9:e12306. [PMID: 36923855 PMCID: PMC10008990 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tourism safety is essential for tourists and tourism practitioners. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace for 2018 articles indexed on the Web of Science (WoS). It also analysed 7293 Weibo posts between 1977 and 2022 using Python, MYSQL, AI sentiment, and Tableau. The first tourism safety publication on WoS appeared in 1977, while the first Weibo microblog dated was dated back to 2011. Compared to the information posted on Weibo, the annual publications about tourism safety on WoS recorded a stable increment. On Web of Science (WoS), the academic staff and universities produced the largest number of tourism safety posts. On the flip side, the most productive organisations on Weibo are government agencies in popular tourism destinations. "Accident", "medical tourism", "environment", "mediating role", and "hospitality" were important burst nodes in tourism safety on WoS. "Quality", "accident", and health-related words were the foci on both Weibo and WoS. On Web of Science, the top 10 most popular keywords of tourism safety-related articles could be classified into two groups: health ("Covid-19", "restoration", "pandemics", "Sars-Cov-2", "Sars", "mental health") and IT terminologies ("big data", "artificial intelligence"). It has been concluded that "artificial intelligence (AI)" is more likely to be included in the keywords on tourism researched by academia. In contrast, the public may not know about or use AI in the tourism industry. Besides, the top 10 most popular keywords on Weibo related to tourism risks and hazards were drowning and traffic risks and hazards, such as drowning and traffic risks. The digital divide may explain such a difference: the academic circle benefits more from the digital age than laypersons. It may also be the result of institutional differences and information asymmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyun Zeng
- Civil & Architecture Engineering School, Panzhihua University, Panzhihua, China
| | - Rita Yi Man Li
- Sustainable Real Estate Research Center, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Huiling Zeng
- Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok, Bangkok, Thailand
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3
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Wangai MW, Wangai FK, Njiri F, Wangai EN, Wangai P, Nyongesa C, Kinuthia J. Understanding and comparing the medical tourism cancer patient with the locally managed patient: A case control study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273162. [PMID: 36129938 PMCID: PMC9491543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction
Medical tourism is characterized by people seeking treatment abroad for various medical conditions due to varied reasons, many of whom benefit from specialized care for non-communicable diseases. Conversely, there are associated negative effects such as medical complications and weakened health systems. Currently, there is paucity of scientific evidence on patient-related factors influencing seeking treatment benefits abroad. This study sought to compare patient-related factors associated with choice of cancer treatment center locally or abroad, to understand reasons for seeking treatment outside Kenya.
Materials and methods
As a case-control study, 254 cancer patients were randomly sampled to compare responses from those who chose to receive initial treatment abroad or in Kenya. The cases were recruited from Ministry of Health while the controls from Kenyatta National Hospital and Texas Cancer Center. Data was analyzed using SPSS Software Version 21. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out. Level of significance was set at 5%.
Results
Out of 254 respondents, 174 (69.5%) were treated for cancer in Kenya and 80 (31.5%) in India. We found that cost effectiveness was a significant factor for over 73% of all respondents. The study revealed independent predictors for seeking treatment in India were: monthly income higher than US$ 250; every additional month from when disclosure to patients was done increased likelihood by 1.16 times; physician advice (Odds Ratio(OR) 66; 95% Confidence Interval(CI) 7.9–552.9); friends and family (OR 42; 95% CI 7.07–248.6); and perception of better quality of care (OR 22.5; 95% CI 2.2–230.6).
Conclusion
Reasons patients with cancer sought treatment in India are multifactorial. Several of these can be addressed to reverse out-ward bound medical tourism and contribute to improving the in-country cancer healthcare. It will require strengthening the health system accordingly and sensitizing the medical fraternity and general public on the same.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary W. Wangai
- Department of International Health Relations, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
- * E-mail:
| | - Frederick K. Wangai
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Francis Njiri
- University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Enan N. Wangai
- School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences—University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - John Kinuthia
- Research and Programs Department, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
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Amuedo‐Dorantes C, Rivera‐Garrido N, Vall Castelló J. Reforming the provision of cross-border medical care: Evidence from Spain. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2022; 31:859-876. [PMID: 35212071 PMCID: PMC9303968 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cross-border medical care, defined as care facilitated by a local health provider under pre-established regional agreements, as in the case of European Union (EU) citizens accessing care within EU countries, has been on the rise. Unlike medical tourism, typically sought by patients through their own volition and paid for out-of-pocket, cross-border medical care is often reimbursable or paid for directly by the responsible government. Yet, because nations vary in the extent of health coverage offered to their residents, these expenditures are often only partially reimbursed. The resulting financial burden for some countries can be large and not reciprocal, straining regional and country-level finances. We analyze the effectiveness of a legislative measure adopted by a Spanish region in January 2012 with the purpose of curbing cross-border medical care. Using a comprehensive administrative dataset of all medical procedures performed in the country between 2008 and 2015, we find that the measure led to a drastic drop in the number of foreigners' hospitalizations and a reduction of 4.8 million euros/trimester in costs. Finally, the decrease in hospitalizations did not disproportionally affect patients based on their gender, age, or origin, although it fostered a reduction in readmissions.
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Badrabadi NK, Tourani S, Karimi A. Identifying the themes of medical tourism business in Iran: A systematic review. JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH PROMOTION 2022; 11:146. [PMID: 35677285 PMCID: PMC9170202 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_277_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nowadays, medical tourism reports impressive growth in terms of number of persons, income, and number of countries involved in cross-border flows. It refers to people traveling abroad (from home to a target country) to obtain medical treatment. The present study aimed to identify the themes and codes of the medical tourism business in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched international databases (such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science) and Iranian bibliography thesaurus and repositories (namely, Scientific Information Database and Magiran) using keywords such as medical tourism, international medical travel, and medical tourism business in the English and Persian literature, published between January 2000 and December 2019, identified with no restriction on the type of the studies. The data were analyzed based on the content analysis method. RESULTS Out of 1054 articles, 14 were finally selected. In the end, eight themes of the medical tourism business including competitive pricing, safety and security, information and communication technology, labor market and human resources, structure management, leading the way in medical tourism, infrastructure, and exchange with the international world were identified which on the whole contain 45 codes. Most of the articles were quantitative. Four of the themes (competitive price, labor market and human resources, structure management, and infrastructure) were most frequent and of the highest importance. CONCLUSION The themes and codes identified in this study helps companies and individuals who want to work in the field of medical tourism. According to this study, all 8 themes and 45 codes are of high value, but still, some themes are of higher value than others and special attention should be paid to them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiseh Karimi Badrabadi
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, International Campus, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sogand Tourani
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Asef Karimi
- Department of Business Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Zhong L, Deng B, Morrison AM, Coca-Stefaniak JA, Yang L. Medical, Health and Wellness Tourism Research-A Review of the Literature (1970-2020) and Research Agenda. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010875. [PMID: 34682622 PMCID: PMC8536053 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Medical, health and wellness tourism and travel represent a dynamic and rapidly growing multi-disciplinary economic activity and field of knowledge. This research responds to earlier calls to integrate research on travel medicine and tourism. It critically reviews the literature published on these topics over a 50-year period (1970 to 2020) using CiteSpace software. Some 802 articles were gathered and analyzed from major databases including the Web of Science and Scopus. Markets (demand and behavior), destinations (development and promotion), and development environments (policies and impacts) emerged as the main three research themes in medical-health-wellness tourism. Medical-health-wellness tourism will integrate with other care sectors and become more embedded in policy-making related to sustainable development, especially with regards to quality of life initiatives. A future research agenda for medical-health-tourism is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Zhong
- Institute for Big Data Research in Tourism, School of Tourism Sciences, Beijing International Studies University, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100024, China; (L.Z.); (B.D.); (L.Y.)
| | - Baolin Deng
- Institute for Big Data Research in Tourism, School of Tourism Sciences, Beijing International Studies University, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100024, China; (L.Z.); (B.D.); (L.Y.)
| | - Alastair M. Morrison
- Greenwich Business School, Old Royal Naval College, University of Greenwich, London SE10 9SL, UK;
- Correspondence:
| | - J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak
- Greenwich Business School, Old Royal Naval College, University of Greenwich, London SE10 9SL, UK;
| | - Liyu Yang
- Institute for Big Data Research in Tourism, School of Tourism Sciences, Beijing International Studies University, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100024, China; (L.Z.); (B.D.); (L.Y.)
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Österle A, Diesenreiter C, Glinsner B, Reichel E. Inbound and outbound medical travel in Austria. J Health Organ Manag 2021; ahead-of-print. [PMID: 33314874 PMCID: PMC9251641 DOI: 10.1108/jhom-04-2020-0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: First, it analyzes demand and supply-side factors that influence patient flows to and from Austria. Second, building on the empirical research and existing conceptualizations, the study offers a general extended framework to guide future comparative analysis. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on multiple data sources including a literature review, secondary data, website analysis and semi-structured interviews with patients and health providers. Content analysis was carried out to identify common motives for seeking care abroad and providers' orientation towards medical travel. Findings Outbound medical travel is largely determined by factors of access, affordability and vicinity, while inbound medical travel is predominately driven by a lack of adequate medical infrastructure in source countries and quality, both in terms of medical and service quality. Providers distinguish themselves according to the extent they take part in medical travel. Research limitations/implications The findings emerging from a single country case study approach cannot be generalized across settings and contexts, albeit contributing to a better understanding of current medical travel patterns in Europe. Originality/value Unlike most recent contributions, this study focuses both on inbound and outbound medical travel in Austria and investigates patient flows for distinctive treatments and drivers. While analysis of the supply-side of medical travel is often limited to tourism studies, this study provides a critical insight into developments in Europe from a health policy perspective, acknowledging that diverse medical travel patterns in Europe coexist.
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Affiliation(s)
- August Österle
- Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carina Diesenreiter
- Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Eva Reichel
- Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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8
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Bulatovic I, Iankova K. Barriers to Medical Tourism Development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18031365. [PMID: 33540935 PMCID: PMC7908472 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Medical tourism is a thriving industry. Many destinations now seek to attract more medical tourists. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is no exception. As one of the most important pillars of the UAE’s economy, tourism is considered a high priority. However, medical tourism in the UAE is still developing. This paper addresses the main challenges for medical tourism in the UAE and proposes methods to enhance its development. This research utilized qualitative analysis. Twelve professionals in medical tourism were interviewed to provide data. The data were then analyzed using NVivo 12 software. Our results indicate that the key barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE are high costs of medical tourism services, lack of marketing activities, lack of collaboration between medical and tourism service providers, and so forth. Although initiatives from the UAE government are very encouraging, more efficient medical care supply networks, tourism suppliers and intermediaries should be established to ensure its growth. This research could influence national tourism policies in the UAE as well as regional alliances in all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries.
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Asher CM, Fleet M, Jivraj B, Bystrzonowski N. Cosmetic Tourism: a Costly Filler Within the National Health Service Budget or a Missed Financial Opportunity? A Local Cost Analysis and Examination of the Literature. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2020; 44:586-594. [PMID: 31832735 DOI: 10.1007/s00266-019-01571-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cosmetic tourism is a global commodity, but patients seeking treatment for complications of international cosmetic tourism appear to be on the rise. We calculate the financial burden to a single NHS trust and summarise the literature, reviewing the implications of cosmetic tourism and summarising available guidance to assist surgeons in this ethically challenging, but expanding, field. METHODS Hospital episodes for patients with complications from cosmetic tourism between January 2016 and March 2017 were retrieved using the patient management system. The coding department provided the episode costs. A literature search was conducted using Medline, EMBASE and HBE identifying 273 English abstracts. The abstracts were reviewed for relevance followed by assessment of the 48 selected full articles by all authors and 17 papers contained relevant, new information. RESULTS Eleven patients underwent management for complications of cosmetic surgery, most commonly infection, with a sum of 29 inpatient episodes and total cost of £259,732. DISCUSSION Our study illustrates the management of complications of cosmetic surgery carries a high cost. This is not an experience limited to just this trust in the UK. Internationally, healthcare systems are evolving to raise the safety profile for cosmetic tourists, some going the extra mile to accommodate healthcare tourists, reaping the financial reward. Following the examination of the literature, we query whether NHS trusts should heighten their presence as providers of private services on the international market, eliminating numerous medical-ethic concerns associated with substandard cosmetic tourism. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M Asher
- Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust, 369 Fulham Rd, Chelsea, London, SW10 9NH, UK.
| | - Malik Fleet
- Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust, 369 Fulham Rd, Chelsea, London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Bejaan Jivraj
- Imperial College School of Medicine, Kensington, London, SW7 2DD, UK
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10
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Hadian M, Jabbari A, Mousavi SH, Sheikhbardsiri H. Medical tourism development: A systematic review of economic aspects. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/20479700.2019.1677977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marziye Hadian
- Department of Health Care Management, Student Research Committee of School of Management and Medical Information, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Alireza Jabbari
- Health Services Management, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seyed Hossein Mousavi
- Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, Student Research Committee of School of Management and Medical Information, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hojjat Sheikhbardsiri
- Department of Emergency Operation Center (EOC), Disasters and Emergencies Management Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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11
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Foley BM, Haglin JM, Tanzer JR, Eltorai AEM. Patient care without borders: a systematic review of medical and surgical tourism. J Travel Med 2019; 26:5528799. [PMID: 31281926 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taz049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical tourism (MT) is an increasingly utilized modality for acquiring medical treatment for patients globally. This review assimilates the current literature regarding MT, with particular focus on the applications, ethics and economics. METHODS A systematic review of MEDLINE and PubMed Central databases for publications relating to MT from 2005 to 2018 yielded 43 articles for this review. RESULTS Patients seeking elective bariatric, cosmetic and orthopedic surgery abroad are motivated by significantly lower costs, all-inclusive vacation packages and reduced wait times. Complication rates as high as 56% include infection, poor aesthetic and functional outcome and adverse cardiovascular events. Cross-border reproductive care has steadily increased due to less restrictive policies in select countries; however, the depth of research on outcomes and quality of care is abysmal. Stem cell therapy promise treatments that are often not well researched and offer minimal evidence of efficacy, yet patients are drawn to treatment through anecdotal advertisements and a last sense of hope. Transplant surgery sought to decrease wait times carries many of the similar aforementioned risks and may contribute to the practice of organ trafficking in countries with high rates of poverty. Patients and countries alike are motivated by a plethora of factors to engage in the MT industry but may be doing so without accurate knowledge of the quality, safety or potential for economic gain. Safety is of utmost importance to prevent surgical complications and the spread of treatment-resistant bacteria. CONCLUSIONS MT is growing in popularity and complexity. The lack of standardization in its definition and regulation leads to difficulty in epidemiologic and economic analysis and ethical issues of informed consent and health equity. The findings of this review may be used by the stakeholders of MT, including patients and providers, to enhance informed decision-making and quality of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany M Foley
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ 85054, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Jack M Haglin
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ 85054, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | | | - Adam E M Eltorai
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
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12
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Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to explore the demand-side factors that influence the inbound medical tourists' (MTs) decision to travel abroad for medical treatment/surgery. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The researchers conducted thematic analysis of in-depth interviews in India with 24 foreign MTs' to generate the themes, identify factors and propose a model with hypothesis for future quantitative survey. FINDINGS The findings conclude that patients ranked in ascending order less waiting time for surgery, healthcare quality and accreditation, staff/surgeons expertise, healthcare information, hospital facilities and services, patient safety, travel risk, surgical costs and holiday opportunity as important factors that influence the decision to travel abroad for medical treatment/surgery. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS Foreign patients from six private hospitals were willing to be interviewed with the permission of the hospital. Due to confidentiality and privacy policy, many hospitals declined interviews with foreign patients. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The findings are generalised in case of foreign patients as MTs and all private hospitals treating foreign patients in India and other global healthcare destinations. Policy implications suggest that private hospitals in developing countries need to provide first-class quality of healthcare as foreign patients look for internationally accredited quality, no waiting time, patient safety, qualified and experienced surgeons, healthcare workers education and experience hospital facilities and post-surgery care with positive healthcare outcomes. ORIGINALITY/VALUE There is little empirical research on the views of inbound MTs, about factors influencing their decision to travel abroad for surgery to India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Medhekar
- School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University , Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ho Yin Wong
- Department of Marketing, Deakin University - Melbourne Burwood Campus , Burwood, Australia
| | - John Edward Hall
- Department of Marketing, Deakin University - Melbourne Burwood Campus , Burwood, Australia
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13
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The journey from an allopathic to natural treatment approach: A scoping review of medical tourism and health systems. Eur J Integr Med 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Dewachi O, Rizk A, Singh NV. (Dis)connectivities in wartime: The therapeutic geographies of Iraqi healthcare-seeking in Lebanon. Glob Public Health 2017; 13:288-297. [PMID: 29099332 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2017.1395469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The proliferation of conflicts across borders of Middle Eastern States has transformed the landscapes of health and healthcare across the region. In the case of Iraq, state healthcare has collapsed under the strain of protracted conflicts. Meanwhile, Lebanon's post-war healthcare system is booming, and becoming more privatised. In this paper, we build on an ethnographic study on the movements and experiences of Iraqi patients in Lebanon to show how one of the consequences of war is the rise of alternative forms of healthcare-seeking practices and survival strategies - a therapeutic geography that is embedded in regional economies and geopolitical relations and reconfigurations. We argue for the need to reimagine the disconnectivity and connectivity of healthcare systems under war and conflict as grounded in the empirical realities and experiences of mobility in the Middle East.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Dewachi
- a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences , American University of Beirut , Beirut , Lebanon
| | - Anthony Rizk
- b Department of Anthropology , Durham University , Durham , UK
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15
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Labonté R, Runnels V, Crooks VA, Johnston R, Snyder J. What does the development of medical tourism in Barbados hold for health equity? an exploratory qualitative case study. Glob Health Res Policy 2017; 2:5. [PMID: 29202073 PMCID: PMC5683222 DOI: 10.1186/s41256-017-0025-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although the global growth of privatized health care services in the form of medical tourism appears to generate economic benefits, there is debate about medical tourism’s impacts on health equity in countries that receive medical tourists. Studies of the processes of economic globalization in relation to social determinants of health suggest that medical tourism’s impacts on health equity can be both direct and indirect. Barbados, a small Caribbean nation which has universal public health care, private sector health care and a strong tourism industry, is interested in developing an enhanced medical tourism sector. In order to appreciate Barbadians’ understanding of how a medical tourism industry might impact health equity. Methods We conducted 50 individual and small-group interviews in Barbados with stakeholders including government officials, business and health professionals. The interviews were coded and analyzed deductively using the schedule’s questions, and inductively for novel findings, and discussed by the authors. Results The findings suggest that in spite of Barbados’ universal health care and strong population health indicators, there is expressed concern for medical tourism’s impact on health equity. Informants pointed to the direct ways in which the domestic population might access more health care through medical tourism and how privately-provided medical tourism in Barbados could provide health benefits indirectly to the Barbadian populations. At the same time, they cautioned that these benefits may not materialize. For example, the transfer of public resources — health workers, money, infrastructure and equipment — to the private sector to support medical tourism with little to no return to government revenues could result in health inequity through reductions in access to and availability of health care for residents. Conclusions In clarifying the direct and indirect pathways by which medical tourism can impact health equity, these findings have implications for health system stakeholders and decision-makers in Barbados and other countries attempting both to build a medical tourism industry and to protect health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Labonté
- Globalization and Health Equity Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 850 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3 Canada
| | - Vivien Runnels
- Globalization and Health Equity Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 850 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3 Canada
| | - Valorie A Crooks
- Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Rory Johnston
- Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Jeremy Snyder
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
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Whitmore R, Crooks VA, Snyder J. A qualitative exploration of how Canadian informal caregivers in medical tourism use experiential resources to cope with providing transnational care. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2017; 25:266-274. [PMID: 26503715 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Canadians travelling abroad for privately arranged surgeries paid for out-of-pocket are engaging in what has come to be known as medical tourism. They are often accompanied by friends or family members, who we call caregiver-companions. Caregiver-companions provide care in and across a variety of formal and informal settings, such as in hotels, airplanes and at home. This qualitative study examines the experiences of informal caregivers in medical tourism to learn more about the lived experiences or 'experiential resources' they draw upon to cope with providing care and avoiding caregiver burden. The care-giving literature has demonstrated that such burden can negatively impact caregivers' well-being. The unique, transnational context of care-giving in medical tourism and recent growth in popularity of this practice means that there are few supports or resources currently in place to assist informal caregivers. In this article, we report on an analysis that sought to detail how caregiver-companions draw upon their previous lived experiences to cope with providing transnational care and to minimise or avoid the onset of caregiver burden. We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 20 Canadians who had accompanied their friends or family members abroad for surgery between September 2013 and January 2014. Thematic analysis revealed the ways that participants had developed practical strategies to deal with the challenges they faced in medical tourism. The interviews revealed three important experiential resources drawn upon by participants: (i) previous experiences of international travel; (ii) previous experiences of informal care-giving; and (iii) dimensions of the existing relationship with the care recipient. Differences in access to and use of these experiential resources related to participants' perspectives on medical tourism and the outcomes of the trip. By identifying the experiential resources drawn upon by informal caregivers in medical tourism, we can more effectively identify supportive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Whitmore
- Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Valorie A Crooks
- Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jeremy Snyder
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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Management of Mycobacterium abscessus Infection After Medical Tourism in Cosmetic Surgery and a Review of Literature. Ann Plast Surg 2016; 77:678-682. [DOI: 10.1097/sap.0000000000000745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Johnston R, Crooks VA, Cerón A, Labonté R, Snyder J, Núñez EO, Flores WG. Providers' perspectives on inbound medical tourism in Central America and the Caribbean: factors driving and inhibiting sector development and their health equity implications. Glob Health Action 2016; 9:32760. [PMID: 27876457 PMCID: PMC5120386 DOI: 10.3402/gha.v9.32760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many governments and health care providers worldwide are enthusiastic to develop medical tourism as a service export. Despite the popularity of this policy uptake, there is relatively little known about the specific local factors prospectively motivating and informing development of this sector. Objective To identify common social, economic, and health system factors shaping the development of medical tourism in three Central American and Caribbean countries and their health equity implications. Design In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted in Mexico, Guatemala, and Barbados with 150 health system stakeholders. Participants were recruited from private and public sectors working in various fields: trade and economic development, health services delivery, training and administration, and civil society. Transcribed interviews were coded using qualitative data management software, and thematic analysis was used to identify cross-cutting issues regarding the drivers and inhibitors of medical tourism development. Results Four common drivers of medical tourism development were identified: 1) unused capacity in existing private hospitals, 2) international portability of health insurance, vis-a-vis international hospital accreditation, 3) internationally trained physicians as both marketable assets and industry entrepreneurs, and 4) promotion of medical tourism by public export development corporations. Three common inhibitors for the development of the sector were also identified: 1) the high expense of market entry, 2) poor sector-wide planning, and 3) structural socio-economic issues such as insecurity or relatively high business costs and financial risks. Conclusion There are shared factors shaping the development of medical tourism in Central America and the Caribbean that help explain why it is being pursued by many hospitals and governments in the region. Development of the sector is primarily being driven by public investment promotion agencies and the private health sector seeking economic benefits with limited consideration and planning for the health equity concerns medical tourism raises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory Johnston
- Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada;
| | - Valorie A Crooks
- Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Alejandro Cerón
- Department of Anthropology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Ronald Labonté
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Jeremy Snyder
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | | | - Walter G Flores
- Centro de Estudios para la Equidad y Gobernanza en los Sistemas de Salud, Guatemala, Guatemala
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Uçak H. The relationship between the growth in the health sector and inbound health tourism: the case of Turkey. SPRINGERPLUS 2016; 5:1685. [PMID: 27733986 PMCID: PMC5042919 DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-3341-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
One of the consequences of globalisation for Turkey, as well as in other emerging countries, has been an increasing trend in health tourism. Households have been considered choice the best option in terms of price and alternative possibilities while they have been solved their health problems. Previous studies have argued that the main drivers of the growth of inbound health tourism to developing countries are lower costs, shorter waiting periods, and better quality of care. This study aimed to test the effect of health and social service sector growth on the flow of inbound health tourism between 2004:Q1 and 2015:Q4 by employing Granger causality and Johansen cointegration approaches. Our findings suggested that there is a long-run Granger causality from domestic health and social work expenditures to health tourism income whereas this is non-existence in the opposite direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harun Uçak
- Department of Economics and Finance, Faculty of Business, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Alanya, Antalya, Turkey
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Yildiz MS, Khan MM. Opportunities for reproductive tourism: cost and quality advantages of Turkey in the provision of in-vitro Fertilization (IVF) services. BMC Health Serv Res 2016; 16:378. [PMID: 27515375 PMCID: PMC4982316 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-016-1628-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The scale and scope of medical tourism have expanded rapidly over the last few decades. Turkey is becoming an important player in this market because of its relatively better service quality and large comparative cost advantage. METHODS This paper compares cost, quality and effectiveness of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in the USA and in Turkey. The data from Turkey were obtained from a hospital specializing in IVF services and the US data came from secondary sources. Package price offered by the dominant IVF-service provider to international patients in Turkey was used as a measure of cost for Turkey while IVF-specific service prices were used to estimate the cost for USA. To compare quality and effectiveness of IVF services, a number of general clinical quality indicators and IVF success rate were used. RESULTS Indicators of quality, cost and success rate in the Turkish hospital were found to be better than the corresponding indicators in US hospitals. The cost difference of IVF services between USA and Turkey is so significant that the overall cost of obtaining the service from Turkey remains lower even with additional expenses for travel and accommodation. CONCLUSIONS Cost-effectiveness ratio of IVF treatment per successful clinical pregnancy was much lower in Turkey than in the USA. It appears that cost and quality are the two most important factors affecting demand for health care services by international patients in Turkey. Like other important players in the medical tourism market, Turkey should be able to take advantage of its success in IVF, a highly specialized niche market, to transform its health system into an important exporter of general health services.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M. Mahmud Khan
- Department of Health Services Policy and Management, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, #357, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
- Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
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Health Tourism Inclined Toward Obtaining Accreditation. RAZAVI INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 2014. [DOI: 10.5812/rijm.20047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Greenfield D, Pawsey M. Medical tourism raises questions that highlight the need for care and caution. Med J Aust 2014; 201:568-9. [PMID: 25390251 DOI: 10.5694/mja14.00471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Greenfield
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Clinical Governance Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Marjorie Pawsey
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Clinical Governance Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Runnels V, Labonté R, Packer C, Chaudhry S, Adams O, Blackmer J. Canadian physicians' responses to cross border health care. Global Health 2014; 10:20. [PMID: 24708810 PMCID: PMC4233639 DOI: 10.1186/1744-8603-10-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The idea for this survey emanated from desk research and two meetings for researchers that discussed medical tourism and out-of-country health care, which were convened by some of the authors of this article (VR, CP and RL). Methods A Cross Border Health Care Survey was drafted by a number of the authors and administered to Canadian physicians via the Canadian Medical Association’s e-panel. The purpose of the survey was to gain an understanding of physicians’ experiences with and views of their patients acquiring health care out of country, either as medical tourists (paying out-of-pocket for their care) or out-of-country care patients funded by provincial/territorial public health insurance plans. Quantitative and qualitative results of the survey were analyzed. Results 631 physicians responded to the survey. Diagnostic procedures were the top-ranked procedure for patients either as out-of-country care recipients or medical tourists. Respondents reported that the main reason why patients sought care abroad was because waiting times in Canada were too long. Some respondents were frustrated with a lack of information about out-of-country procedures upon their patients’ return to Canada. The majority of physician respondents agreed that it was their responsibility to provide follow-up care to medical travellers on return to Canada, although a substantial minority disagreed that they had such a responsibility. Conclusions Cross-border health care, whether government-sanctioned (out-of-country-care) or patient-initiated (medical tourism), is increasing in Canada. Such flows are thought likely to increase with aging populations. Government-sanctioned outbound flows are less problematic than patient-initiated flows but are constrained by low approval rates, which may increase patient initiation. Lack of information and post-return complications pose the greatest concern to Canadian physicians. Further research on both types of flows (government-sanctioned and patient-initiated), and how they affect the Canadian health system, can contribute to a more informed debate about the role of cross-border health care in the future, and how it might be organized and regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Corinne Packer
- Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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Ozan-Rafferty ME, Johnson JA, Shah GH, Kursun A. In the words of the medical tourist: an analysis of Internet narratives by health travelers to Turkey. J Med Internet Res 2014; 16:e43. [PMID: 24513565 PMCID: PMC3936263 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2013] [Revised: 12/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients regularly travel to the West for advanced medical care, but now the trend is also shifting in the opposite direction. Many people from Western countries now seek care outside of their country. This phenomenon has been labeled medical tourism or health travel. Information regarding health travelers’ actual outcomes, experiences, and perceptions is lacking or insufficient. However, advanced Internet technology and apps provide information on medical tourism and are a vehicle for patients to share their experiences. Turkey has a large number of internationally accredited hospitals, is a top tourism destination, and is positioning itself to attract international patients. Objective The objective of this research was to identify the important individual characteristics of health travelers, outline the push and pull factors for seeking health care in Turkey, identify satisfaction with the outcomes and the results of these individuals’ treatments, and note positive and negative factors influencing their perceptions and overall experiences about patients’ health travel. Methods This research uses qualitative data from Internet narratives of medical tourists to Turkey. Ethical considerations of using Internet narratives were reviewed. Narratives for analysis were obtained by using the Google search engine and using multiple search terms to obtain publicly posted blogs and discussion board postings of health travelers via purposeful sampling. Narratives were included if they were written in English, described travel to Turkey for health care, and were publicly accessible. Exclusion criteria included narratives that were on medical tourism facilitator or provider promotional websites, not in English, and did not describe an experience of a medical tourist. Medical tourists’ written words were analyzed in an iterative analytic process using narrative analysis theory principles. Three stages of coding (open, axial, and selective) were conducted to identify characteristics and themes using qualitative analysis software. Results The narrative posts of 36 individuals undergoing 47 procedures who traveled to Turkey for medical care between 2007 and 2012 were analyzed. The narratives came from 13 countries, not including the narratives for which patient origin could not be determined. Travelers were predominantly from Europe (16/36, 44%) and North America (10/36, 28%). Factors driving travelers away from their home country (push factors) were cost and lack of treatment options or insufficient insurance coverage in their home country. Leading factors attracting patients to destination (pull factors) were lower costs, physician’s expertise and responsiveness, and familiarity or interest in Turkey. Health travelers to Turkey were generally satisfied with the outcomes of their procedures and care provided by their physicians, many noting intent to return. Communication challenges, food, transportation, and gaps in customer service emerged as key areas for improvement. Conclusions This analysis provides an understanding of the insights of medical tourists through the words of actual health travelers. This nonintrusive methodology provides candid insights of common themes of health travelers and may be applied to study other patient experiences. The findings of this research expands the body of knowledge in medical tourism and serves as a platform for further qualitative and quantitative research on health travelers’ experiences.
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