Medical Tourism Goes Under the Microscope
Medical Tourism study in UK by NHS
Medical Tourism is to go under a microscope in the UK.
A major new study, led by an academic from the University of York, is assessing the potential advantages and disadvantages of medical tourism.
The York academic seeks to discover the value for money truth behind “medical tourism” and its impact on the National Institute for Health Research (NHS).
Traveling4Health welcomes the research findings and the disclosure of the information upon which the findings are based – the devil being in the details.
Dr. Neil Lunt, of the York University Management School, will head a team of researchers that includes health economists, social scientists and clinicians.
They will spend 18 months studying:
- economic impact
- consumerism and patient decision-making
- quality, safety and risk
- industry development.
Traveling4Health has been providing bottom-up research for two years recording interviews with patients, doctors and industry experts. It will be interesting to compare notes on their findings and see what conclusions are made.
Articles about the study point to the “perceived” upside of patients shopping abroad for cheaper dental services, elective surgery for hip or joint replacement, cosmetic surgery and fertility treatment as it cuts waiting lists in the UK while boosting the economies of poorer countries.
The concern being voiced is that – if and when something goes wrong after the patient returns home it may be the NHS which is left to sort out any complications.
It’s a valid concern – and why Traveling4health brings you health articles and information on providers and member reviews upon which to make intelligent decisions.
The researchers will seek to establish the amount people are paying for medical tourism and to determine “if people are making informed choices or being sucked into decisions by internet gossip”. (source www.yorkshirepost.co.uk)
From those comments one could conclude that the study is starting out with a cynical view of either the medical tourism industry or perhaps making a judgment that people are prone to be “sucked into decisions through internet gossip”.
However, there is a lot of “hype” in the industry and Traveling4health welcomes any research. And in fact I contacted Dr. Lunt to offer to help. We will appreciate any chance to collaborate on a medical tourism report and keep our readers informed.
Ilene has written 78 posts to this blog. Ilene Little, CEO of Traveling 4 Health & Retirement (THR), has written an excellent report on reasons Boomers are embracing medical tourism in this global health era. This Medical Tourism Report features live interviews of patients, doctors, facilitators, and caregivers. Also see Ilene's regular Medical Tourism Blog.
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Olga
October 7, 2010
I’m an Israeli, and I know that many people come to the Israeli hospitals for cancer treatments. But we have another health travel destination here- the Dead sea.
The Dead Sea region is considered one of the world’s leading and most unique healing sites for the treatment of skin and lung diseases. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come here every year from around the globe, in order to benefit from the healing qualities of the long sunrays, unique minerals and bromide-rich air.
Nowadays the Dead sea is a finalist in the new7wonders of nature campaign and I would like to invite everyone to check out the site http://www.votedeadsea.com/home which was created for this purpose and to read more about health tourism at Dead sea.