Medical Tourism and Medical Tourists: A Conceptual Analysis

Abstract

Medical tourism based on transnational journeys for healthcare, cure and well-being is widelydiscussed in the literature. As an upcoming and fast developing phenomenon there are differentviews and perspectives on the concerns of medical tourists. This paper discusses the significanceof medical tourism in the present global scenario and examines the practical difficulties faced bymedical tourists from information search to after care. The concerns of the medical tourists suchas the need for accreditation, patient risks, malpractices and legal issues, and after care issues areexamined here in detail. This article establishes that the medical visa and medical attendant visaconcerns are important in policy formulation in this area. The concerns discussed in this paperneed to be addressed if it needs to be sustained in any economy.