Medical Tourism

Every individual wants optimal healthcare for themselves and their families. Oftentimes, however, the care that one is seeking is not available within short distances. Occasionally, even when care is available, one might not be able to avail of it within the desired timeframe, or the financial implications may be prohibitive. The past decade has seen an upsurge in people willing to travel across cities, countries, and even continents for the healthcare they need. Factors such as ease and affordability of international travel and advancement in technology and standards of care in many countries have led to the increased popularity of this trend. With improvements in the Internet and telecommunication facilities, patients are now able to seek expert medical advice across the globe and consult with any doctor online. If a surgical procedure is required, the destination hospital makes the appropriate travel arrangements to facilitate the care of the patient and their family. Oftentimes, patients can make a holiday out of it—hence the term “tourism.” Sometimes the travel is from LMIC (low- and middle-income country) to HIC (high-income country), and sometimes it is in the opposite direction. There is also a certain special doctor-patient relationship that develops when patients travel long distances to see a physician or surgeon; friendships are made, bonds are established, and families are extended. Occasionally, when the desired outcome is not attained, there is grief, sorrow, and resentment, which has additional ramifications when this happens in a foreign country. There might even be a time in the future when distant procedural care will be delivered robotically across all specialties with precision and astounding results. In this chapter, we will discuss the history of medical tourism, its logistics, economic impact, safety, advantages, and pitfalls and the ethical aspects of travelling for medical treatment across borders.