Passport to Beauty?
Author: Rebecca Lees
2 Commentries
Passport to Beauty?
Abstract
The truth about the growing market of international medical tourism and the associated risks to tourists travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery
Key Words
Medical Tourism, Globalisation, Healthcare and Cosmetic Surgery
Introduction
Medical tourism also known as; medical travel or health tourism, was initially created by Travel Agents and the mass-media due to the rapid growth of tourists travelling across borders to obtain healthcare. Now over 50 countries have identified medical tourism as a national industry, however there are many risks and ethical issues that make this process of accessing medical care controversial. The rise of medical tourism emphasises the privatisation of healthcare and the accelerated globalisation of both healthcare and tourism (Connell, 2006).
Risks Associates with Medical Tourism
For many medical travellers there are often 'hidden' health risks, obscured by positive images presented through colourful advertising and marketing of exotic holiday destinations and luxury travel facilities. (Page & Clift, 1996). Why are patients putting their health in the hands of a total stranger in a country they have never visited and pay extra for airfares and accommodation? Understandably tourists are taking the view that medical tourism in fun; recuperating on a beach, sipping island cocktails and exotic foods, when in reality these are only snap shots of the positive aspects of the medical trip.
Individuals travel to distant countries to receive medical treatment are usually not covered by insurance policies or because insurance coverage is too expensive in their home country. Patients do not realise that even though travelling abroad for surgery seems convenient, affordable and there is a chance to experience new cultures, patients occasionally sacrifice familiarity and certain legal guarantees.
India is not exactly known for health and hygiene, but nonetheless people from the EU are still travelling abroad to undergo cosmetic surgery in this major market and attached to this is the parallel perception that 'you get what you pay for'. There is no doubt that potential health threats to tourists affect businesses of travel and tourism itself, especially when health problems in destinations such as Costa Rica and India assume 'epidemic' proportions (Page & Clift, 1996).
Ethical and Legal issues
Due to medical tourists travelling outside their own country, many encounter unfamiliar legal issues, with the limited nature of litigation in non-us countries is one reason for the lower cost of care overseas. However if a problem was to arise, patients may not be covered by adequate personal insurance or seek compensation. A study revealed up to 60% of travellers may not receive a health warning when purchasing a ticket to travel to a malaria endemic region (Page & Clift, 1996). Also the purchase of illegal organs and tissues for transplants has been alleged in countries such as India and China and in Thailand in 2008 it was stated that 'doctors in Thailand have become so busy with foreigners that Thai patients are having trouble getting care' (Lagace, 2007).
Tourists Willingness to Travel for Surgery
Most people travelling for medical treatment abroad tend to combine travel & tourism along with their medical procedure, therefore countries such as India and Cuba are building new hotels to accommodate the growing numbers of patients come tourists this leaves no option but deforestation to enhance revenue and foreign exchange. In the middle-east particularly Lebanon and Bahrain they have developed their own medical tourism industry and 'in 2005 relatively low cost Jordan remained the main medical tourism destination in the middle-east' (Connell, 2006).
Thailand is now attracting such a large volume of patients, with its reputation as a tourist haven, existing tourist attractions, with a relatively low cost of living and friendly locals. It has gained a respectable quality of care, especially in niche areas such as cosmetic surgery. (Teh & Chu, 2005). If patients flew to Dubai and Hong Kong patients could feasibly have cosmetic surgery the day after their arrival, which contributes to the increasing popularity of medical travel such as; long waiting lists, high costs of healthcare and the easy access and cost of international travel.
Conclusion
Tourist destinations mentioned throughout have recognised that they must provide high quality care to develop a sustainable, competitive advantage in the international market place. The evidence provided shows that patients are choosing to accept the inconvenience and uncertainties of offshore healthcare to obtain services at prices they can more comfortably afford (Horowitz, 2007).
Would you ever consider cosmetic surgery, now you are aware of the dangers of this risky business?
Bibliography
Connell, J. (2006). Medical Tourism: Sea, sun, sand and ... surgery. Tourism Management , 27 (1) 1093-1100.
Page, S. J., & Clift, S. (1996 ). Health and the International Tourist. London pg. 3-216: Routledge.
Teh, I., & Chu, C. (2005). Supplementing Growth with Medical Tourism. Special Report: Medical Tourism , 9 (8) 306-311.
Abstract
The truth about the growing market of international medical tourism and the associated risks to tourists travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery
Key Words
Medical Tourism, Globalisation, Healthcare and Cosmetic Surgery
Introduction
Medical tourism also known as; medical travel or health tourism, was initially created by Travel Agents and the mass-media due to the rapid growth of tourists travelling across borders to obtain healthcare. Now over 50 countries have identified medical tourism as a national industry, however there are many risks and ethical issues that make this process of accessing medical care controversial. The rise of medical tourism emphasises the privatisation of healthcare and the accelerated globalisation of both healthcare and tourism (Connell, 2006).
Risks Associates with Medical Tourism
For many medical travellers there are often 'hidden' health risks, obscured by positive images presented through colourful advertising and marketing of exotic holiday destinations and luxury travel facilities. (Page & Clift, 1996). Why are patients putting their health in the hands of a total stranger in a country they have never visited and pay extra for airfares and accommodation? Understandably tourists are taking the view that medical tourism in fun; recuperating on a beach, sipping island cocktails and exotic foods, when in reality these are only snap shots of the positive aspects of the medical trip.
Individuals travel to distant countries to receive medical treatment are usually not covered by insurance policies or because insurance coverage is too expensive in their home country. Patients do not realise that even though travelling abroad for surgery seems convenient, affordable and there is a chance to experience new cultures, patients occasionally sacrifice familiarity and certain legal guarantees.
India is not exactly known for health and hygiene, but nonetheless people from the EU are still travelling abroad to undergo cosmetic surgery in this major market and attached to this is the parallel perception that 'you get what you pay for'. There is no doubt that potential health threats to tourists affect businesses of travel and tourism itself, especially when health problems in destinations such as Costa Rica and India assume 'epidemic' proportions (Page & Clift, 1996).
Ethical and Legal issues
Due to medical tourists travelling outside their own country, many encounter unfamiliar legal issues, with the limited nature of litigation in non-us countries is one reason for the lower cost of care overseas. However if a problem was to arise, patients may not be covered by adequate personal insurance or seek compensation. A study revealed up to 60% of travellers may not receive a health warning when purchasing a ticket to travel to a malaria endemic region (Page & Clift, 1996). Also the purchase of illegal organs and tissues for transplants has been alleged in countries such as India and China and in Thailand in 2008 it was stated that 'doctors in Thailand have become so busy with foreigners that Thai patients are having trouble getting care' (Lagace, 2007).
Tourists Willingness to Travel for Surgery
Most people travelling for medical treatment abroad tend to combine travel & tourism along with their medical procedure, therefore countries such as India and Cuba are building new hotels to accommodate the growing numbers of patients come tourists this leaves no option but deforestation to enhance revenue and foreign exchange. In the middle-east particularly Lebanon and Bahrain they have developed their own medical tourism industry and 'in 2005 relatively low cost Jordan remained the main medical tourism destination in the middle-east' (Connell, 2006).
Thailand is now attracting such a large volume of patients, with its reputation as a tourist haven, existing tourist attractions, with a relatively low cost of living and friendly locals. It has gained a respectable quality of care, especially in niche areas such as cosmetic surgery. (Teh & Chu, 2005). If patients flew to Dubai and Hong Kong patients could feasibly have cosmetic surgery the day after their arrival, which contributes to the increasing popularity of medical travel such as; long waiting lists, high costs of healthcare and the easy access and cost of international travel.
Conclusion
Tourist destinations mentioned throughout have recognised that they must provide high quality care to develop a sustainable, competitive advantage in the international market place. The evidence provided shows that patients are choosing to accept the inconvenience and uncertainties of offshore healthcare to obtain services at prices they can more comfortably afford (Horowitz, 2007).
Would you ever consider cosmetic surgery, now you are aware of the dangers of this risky business?
Bibliography
Connell, J. (2006). Medical Tourism: Sea, sun, sand and ... surgery. Tourism Management , 27 (1) 1093-1100.
Page, S. J., & Clift, S. (1996 ). Health and the International Tourist. London pg. 3-216: Routledge.
Teh, I., & Chu, C. (2005). Supplementing Growth with Medical Tourism. Special Report: Medical Tourism , 9 (8) 306-311.