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Medical tourism: Bonus or Burden
Medical tourism is the practice of traveling across international borders to get health care services. The major reasons which necessitate medical tourism are affordable health costs and high quality services found in other countries. Medical tourists also are attracted by convenience of finding all the services they require in one medical centre. Traditional medicine and services are as well quoted as vital factors which trigger medical tourism in areas where they are practiced. Singapore being one of the leading countries with high market share of medical tourism is competing for a better share of the market. Singapore is favored by development of two medical centers and nine hospitals that have gained international accreditation. This paper reviews the nature of medical tourism analyzing its impacts to both tourists and the nations visited.
The development of this industry has seen above 50 in the world identifying medical tourism as a national source of revenue. Startlingly, the notion of medical tourism started many years ago with the first recorded case the Greek pilgrims travelling from the Mediterranean to the small state in the Saronic Gulf known as Epidauria to seek medical services. In Italy and Roman provinces, the primeval Romans made resorts with thermal healing spas where people visited for medical services. (Jesitus J, 2006). Sun-seeking and Spa tourism persevered into the 20th century. Beaches and resorts, medicinal springs, spas, particularly in dry and warm climates, continued to be thought as therapeutic through lengthy exposures to the sun, water and fresh air (Horowitz M, 2007). Ancient people sort medical tourism for both myths and believe as well as healing concerns.
Nowadays, countries such as India, South America the East Indies and South East Asia offer health care facilities which are at par with global standards at a reduced cost. The aspects such as increased cost of...