Sustainable medical tourism in the global competitive environment: The case of Cyprus

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 HEALTH POLICY & SERVICES

International Journal of Health Planning and Management Pub Date : 2024-08-04 DOI:10.1002/hpm.3843

Christos Ntais, Polidefkis Stavrou, John Fanourgiakis, Michael A. Talias, Nikolaos Kontodimopoulos

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

The aim of this study is to examine the perceptions of Cypriot medical tourism experts regarding the phenomenon of medical tourism, as well as to emphasise the benefits and opportunities for Cyprus to become a highly competitive global healthcare destination.

Methods

A Delphi study was conducted in Cyprus, with the participation of 20 experts in the field of medical tourism. At first, 20 experts took part in semi-structured interviews. Based on their feedback provided during that phase, a structured questionnaire was drawn up and completed, addressing a wide variety of medical tourism-related issues, such as benefits and losses from the development of medical tourism in Cyprus, advantages and disadvantages of Cyprus in attracting international patients, the key elements of a medium- to long-term strategic plan for the development of medical tourism in Cyprus, the role of the public and private sector and the importance of international accreditation of private and public hospitals.

Results

Cyprus appears to have some very favourable qualities when it comes to its listing as a competitive destination for medical travellers. Undeniably, the growth of medical tourism improves all sectors of the economy and society, but the healthcare industry is the one that benefits most. On the opposite end, medical tourism could potentially impact the access of local people to healthcare services. No clear answers were given by the expert respondents on the need for international accreditation of healthcare providers in Cyprus.

Conclusion

The competent authorities should promote Cyprus to international markets as a medical tourism destination of choice, upgrading the quality of healthcare services it provides having due regard in parallel to any potential impacts to the access of local population to the healthcare system.

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全球竞争环境下的可持续医疗旅游：塞浦路斯案例。

背景：本研究旨在考察塞浦路斯医疗旅游专家对医疗旅游现象的看法，并强调塞浦路斯成为极具竞争力的全球医疗保健目的地的益处和机遇：在塞浦路斯开展了德尔菲研究，医疗旅游领域的 20 名专家参与了研究。首先，20 名专家参加了半结构化访谈。根据他们在这一阶段提供的反馈意见，起草并完成了一份结构化问卷，涉及与医疗旅游相关的各种问题，如塞浦路斯发展医疗旅游的收益和损失、塞浦路斯在吸引国际患者方面的优势和劣势、塞浦路斯发展医疗旅游的中长期战略计划的关键要素、公共和私营部门的作用以及私立和公立医院获得国际认证的重要性：塞浦路斯在被列为医疗旅游者的竞争目的地方面似乎具有一些非常有利的特质。不可否认，医疗旅游的发展改善了经济和社会的各个领域，但医疗保健行业是受益最大的行业。相反，医疗旅游有可能影响当地人获得医疗服务。对于塞浦路斯医疗服务提供者是否需要国际认证，受访专家未给出明确答案：主管当局应向国际市场推广塞浦路斯，将其作为医疗旅游的首选目的地，提升其提供的医疗服务质量，同时适当考虑对当地居民获得医疗保健系统服务的任何潜在影响。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Health Planning and Management Multiple-

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

3.70%

发文量

197

期刊介绍： Policy making and implementation, planning and management are widely recognized as central to effective health systems and services and to better health. Globalization, and the economic circumstances facing groups of countries worldwide, meanwhile present a great challenge for health planning and management. The aim of this quarterly journal is to offer a forum for publications which direct attention to major issues in health policy, planning and management. The intention is to maintain a balance between theory and practice, from a variety of disciplines, fields and perspectives. The Journal is explicitly international and multidisciplinary in scope and appeal: articles about policy, planning and management in countries at various stages of political, social, cultural and economic development are welcomed, as are those directed at the different levels (national, regional, local) of the health sector. Manuscripts are invited from a spectrum of different disciplines e.g., (the social sciences, management and medicine) as long as they advance our knowledge and understanding of the health sector. The Journal is therefore global, and eclectic.