The Truth about Medical Tourism: Overhyped or Rapidly Growing?

There has been a great deal of focus on medical tourism in the media recently. Stories and accounts of medical tourism claim that it gives patients significant savings and suggest that the number of patients seeking overseas treatment is growing rapidly. According to these accounts, the most popular destinations for spine surgery include Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore (all in India), where patients can enjoy a beautiful, relaxing post-surgery vacation. But as it turns out, the hype surrounding this phenomenon may be overstating the popularity of medical tourism.

Patients from the U.S. and other developed countries only make up a small portion of medical tourists; most of these people come to industrialized nations from developing countries seeking better quality treatment. A survey was conducted within a 50,000 patient sample and results showed that:

• 40% of patients traveled for access and treatment using the most advanced technology available
• 32% traveled to obtain better quality care
• 15% traveled for quicker access to a procedure. This is especially significant for countries such as Canada and the U.K., where a patient can be on a waiting list for as long as two years
• Only 13% of all patients surveyed traveled abroad for cost-saving reasons

Collecting comprehensive data on the subject is difficult because there is no consistent definition of medical tourism. The representation of the survey results is likely flawed because only a handful of facilities were observed, and the only procedures considered were those that required hospital admission. In reality, much of the medical tourism industry lies in cosmetic procedures and dental care, which are typically not performed in hospitals.

Most Americans seeking overseas care are uninsured. Although there is potential for cost-saving through medical tourism, about 80% of procedures are more cost-effective in the U.S. once the patient’s insurance coverage is factored in.

by Ben Parr

Sources:

Health Point Capital - Despite the Hype, Few Go Abroad for Medical Care

Wall Street Journal - Medical Tourism is Still Small

Additional Reading:

1) Pain-Free Travel Tips

2) 29 Best Travel Tips for Your Aching Back

3) Traveling Doesn't Have to Be a Pain in the Neck! - Patients' Advice

4) 5 Tips for Flying Back Pain Free

5) International Doctor Directory