| Medical Tourism can be defined as the | | | | tourism is attractive to many people is that |
| provision for patients to travel offshore in | | | | it offers medical treatments at a |
| search of faster, cost-effective and safer | | | | comparatively low cost. Moreover the public |
| medical and surgical procedures. A | | | | healthcare systems in developed countries are |
| combination of various different factors have | | | | very much overburdened and traveling to |
| led many people from industrialized countries | | | | foreign land for immediate treatment is often |
| to migrate in order to get high quality | | | | a solution to the problem. Medical tourism is |
| medical treatment. The various reasons are | | | | popular and generally accepted because it |
| the cost issues, ease and affordability of | | | | provides the patients with medical assistance |
| international travel, long frustrating queues | | | | accompanied by five-star treatment and |
| in many nations and above all improving | | | | exclusive vacations. Thailand and India are |
| technology standards of health care in many | | | | among the emerging popular spots for medical |
| countries of the world. Both the health | | | | tourism. The Government of of these nations |
| sector and the tourism industry help to | | | | have successfully exerted their leadership to |
| facilitate the process in these countries.The | | | | assist in the development of the medical |
| concept of medical tourism actually traces | | | | tourism industry.India is one of the leading |
| back to ancient Greece, where pilgrims and | | | | players in the medical tourism industry |
| patients from all over the Mediterranean came | | | | today. Cosmetic surgery and dental treatments |
| to the sanctuary of healing god, Asklepios, | | | | is usually what the medical tourists have |
| at Epidaurus. In the 18th century the wealthy | | | | been looking for, but recent studies reveal |
| Europeans from Germany traveled to the | | | | even eye surgery, kidney dialysis and organ |
| Mediterranean spas. The 21st century has | | | | transplantation are among the most common |
| taken the medical tourism industry beyond the | | | | procedures sought by medical vacationers. In |
| wealthy and the desperate providing low cost | | | | particular, India excels in open-heart |
| treatment and transportation services. The | | | | surgery, pediatric heart surgery, bone marrow |
| leisure, fun and relaxation together with | | | | transplants and cancer therapy. The hospitals |
| health care attached to it have made medical | | | | are equipped with the latest electronic and |
| tourism a common form of vacation.Medical | | | | medical diagnostic equipment. |
| tourism presents an opportunity for hospitals | | | | Pharmaceuticals too meet the stringent |
| to tap the potential of the international | | | | requirements of U.S. Food and Drug |
| healthcare market and eventually leverage | | | | Administration and even qualify for the |
| their business. The advancement of medical | | | | American standards for quality of |
| technology, increased transportation | | | | care.Marketing one's facilities with |
| facilities and necessity of immediate quality | | | | informative websites on medical tourism, |
| healthcare has encouraged the healthcare | | | | outlining the transparent pricing schemes and |
| providers to go global. Medical tourists | | | | availability of latest medical accoutrements |
| travel great distances to seek world-class | | | | are the trend of the day. As more and more |
| doctors and hospitals. The healthcare | | | | patients from affluent nations look for |
| providers worldwide are investing to acquire | | | | effective options offshore, the medical |
| the cutting edge technology and venture into | | | | tourism industry has been expanding at a fast |
| the areas of latest medical research. They | | | | pace. Developments will of course lead to |
| even provide lucrative non-medical services | | | | various other economic activities where the |
| such as hospitality services, spa facilities, | | | | main element will always remain |
| and pick-up services to facilitate the stay | | | | quality.Christine is an expert marketing |
| and treatment of their international | | | | professional experienced in various |
| clientele.One major reason that medical | | | | industries. |