Essay ergashov lochin tl-90 Aspects of Health Tourism Industry Term Paper

ESSAY ERGASHOV LOCHIN TL-90

Aspects of Health Tourism Industry Term Paper

Introduction
With exponentially rising healthcare costs in the United States, particularly for those lacking any or good insurance, medical tourism is a rapidly growing industry. In simple terms, health tourism is utilized by individuals who are unable to afford complex procedures or surgeries in the United States and choose to travel to another country where similar procedures can be performed at a fraction of the cost. Many times, these operations are critical, lifesaving, or greatly improve the quality of life for patients to the point that they are willing to take the risks of travel, lesser quality of care, or other potential complications (Yeginsu, 2021). The market for health tourists leaving the U.S. is estimated at 1.4 million, with the average cost per visitor being $3,800-6,000, with the global market worth ranging from $45-72 billion (Dalen & Alpert, 2019). This paper will explore the risks and issues in the health tourism industry and identify strategies for multinational companies and national governments to address them.
Summarize the Problem
The CDC notes that medical tourism carries a certain number of risks. While it recognizes that medical tourism exists due to elements of cost, culture, or legal reasons – the risks of complications exist, depending on destination, the facility where the procedure is performed, and the patient’s health. Some of the most common risks highlighted by the CDC (2021) are infectious disease, antibiotic resistance, quality and continuity of care, communication barriers, and air travel post-surgery. Individuals traveling abroad lack the same protections as they would in the U.S. and may struggle to receive aftercare or emergency care in case anything goes wrong.
Companies operating in the health tourism industry face various challenges, one of the primary being bottlenecks forming due to demand, with a compound annual growth rate of 16% (Dalen & Alpert, 2019). The companies have to through a complex process of navigating both domestic and foreign regulations, ensuring that the quality of care abroad is legitimate (certified facilities), and ensuring that all logistics are in place. There are also concerns regarding the impact of health tourism in destination countries, particularly access to care in the public system, which is often less than ideal but continues to decrease as facilities prioritize medical tourism (Snyder et al., 2013).