Medical tourism is a booming industry. With the rise in international travel, and the lengthy waiting times and subpar standards of care in many countries, this phenomenon has become more common than ever before. thailand medical tourism is a term that refers to the practice of travelling to different countries to get medical treatment. Here are ways medical tourism impact local healthcare systems:
Less local medical consumption
Most countries only have enough medical staff and resources to adequately treat its own population. Countries that are able to send patients abroad for medical procedures will find it easier to acquire those resources for the population that could not afford those services previously. Medical tourists are able to spend a small amount of money in order to get necessary treatments done.
Money lost
According to the World Bank, medical tourism can generate up to US$1.4 billion in revenue for a country. But that same study also estimates that it costs some countries these additional resources, such as labor and maintenance of facilities. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that people who travel internationally will have a low quality of care because there is little variety in international healthcare systems.
Higher price
Medical tourism, by definition, is an international practice. When a patient opts to travel to another country for medical treatment, that patient is likely opting for the most convenient location. Therefore the most natural conclusion can be that the price of treatment in other locations will be more than in their home country.
Higher insurance costs
This case study shows how a man from Massachusetts traveled from Boston to Chicago to get a prostate cancer screening procedure done. He was quoted a price of $1,300 for the procedure and also told that he would need to pay an additional $2,000 for a biopsy. The costs accumulated to about $3,300, which is about three times the average cost of a prostate cancer screening in Boston. The patient decided against the procedure and waited until he returned to Boston where it only cost him $800 because he utilized his insurance network.
Greater accessibility
Traveling abroad for medical treatment can be a beneficial and necessary decision. But it can also cause some form of dilemmas. Conveniences such as language and cultural issues can affect the way that foreign patients perceive their therapy, making the process more uncomfortable than it needs to be. This case study reveals how there is a greater accessibility compared to other countries, including fear and distrust of the health care system.
