How do I define where should I go for medical tourism? When traveling abroad some elements to keep in mind for getting procedures done are:

Affordability: Millions of uninsured patients seek affordable care. This factor is a key factor for the emerging industry of medical tourism. If the country and the procedure are affordable, most likely International Patients are coming to get procedures done.

Available: Many patients travel because medical treatment is not available in their local areas. This type of travel is known as “need factor travel” which makes medical tourists opt for the best available option.

Accessible: Many developed countries have care available for patients, but because of high demand the treatment and care are not accessible. In some countries, patients have to wait for six to twelve months for surgery, hence patients search for easily accessible care.

Acceptable: Few patients travel because “medical services” are acceptable abroad. Services might be affordable, available, and accessible but are not acceptable because of religious, political, and social reasons. It is hard to define the ethical value of such services.

Additional: This is the most important and extensive factor of all. Many patients travel because they receive additional benefits by making use of treatment abroad. It could be better care, modern technology, the latest medicine, better hospitality, personalized care, or privacy among others. This factor provides some sort of additional benefits to patients which is better compared to home country.

Other elements:

Technology: Technological improvements drive medical tourism, like more efficient global transportation and communication systems. The flattening of the world through the Internet and technology in the medical industry is improving the quality of services.

Cost: When patients don’t have health insurance or their health insurance does not pay for all the care they need, the cost of the care is shifted to those patients with health insurance. This is known as Cost Shifting.

Need: The emergence of the new consumer needs, like avoiding waiting queues to get medical treatment or the possibility to have the latest medical treatment, requires new solutions which are not available in the consumer’s home country. So, Need is another driving factor.