Medical Tourism: Health Care Free Trade
Publication Date: August 2008
Publisher: National Center for Policy Analysis (U.S.)
Author(s): Devon Herrick
Research Area: Health
Keywords: Health; Education; Medical tourists
Type: Brief
Abstract:
Global competition in health care is allowing more patients from developed countries to travel for medical reasons to regions once characterized as "third world." Many of these "medical tourists" are not wealthy, but are seeking high quality medical care at affordable prices. To meet the growing demand, entrepreneurs are building technologically advanced facilities in India, Thailand, Latin America and elsewhere, and are hiring physicians, technicians and nurses trained to American and European standards to run them.
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