Medical tourism: an analysis with special reference to its current practice in India

Abstract

By now, medical tourism has grown as a formidable multinational industry in its own right. For at least a decade, people from all around the world have been travelling to other countries to obtain medical, dental and surgical care while, at the same time, touring, vacationing and experiencing the attractions of the countries that they are visiting. With countries like India, Mexico, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Greece, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Peru, Hungary, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand and the Philippines actively promoting it, its future is sure to be bright. The present paper summarises the salient features of the medical tourism business with a specific examination of its current practice in India. The domestic healthcare industry in India is trying all out to grab its pie from the evolving global demand for affordable healthcare. This silent revolution is worth capturing since it is widely anticipated that India will soon emerge as a major medical tourism hub.