IMG Fall Forum to Highlight "Medical Tourism"

In recent years, increasing numbers of North Americans and Europeans have been traveling to India, Thailand, and South America (among other locations) for elective medical procedures. Medical procedures in these countries are considerably less expensive, and the patients often combine the trips with local sightseeing, leading to the term “medical tourism.” Medical tourists have many procedures at their disposal, including plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, infertility treatments, and cardiology.

Lower cost is not the only driver behind the popularity of medical tourism. Others include shorter waiting times, favorable currency-exchange rates, affordable travel, and improved technology and safety in other parts of the world.

To meet the expectations of foreign patients, medical centers abroad are tailoring their services to accommodate medical tourism. Last year, 150,000 foreign patients sought international medical care in India, 200,000 in Singapore, and 600,000 in Thailand.

This phenomena raises many questions that involve everything from liability and safety issues to the aspects of health care in western nations that drive patients to seek health care in developing countries. For a full discussion of these issues, attend the International Medical Graduates Fall Forum on “Medical Globalization” (see box).

– Erin Tally