MEDICAL TOURISM – A BUSINESS OR A NECESSITY?

Abstract

Over the past few decades medical tourism has developed a strong international presence. Increasingly more people are turning to this type of tourism and there are already different specialized tourism companies that offer packages according to the needs of patients/tourists. In this context, few destinations have emerged globally by medical interests of patients. Thailand, India, Taiwan, Turkey are some of these destinations for those who are looking for various procedures (surgeries vital to life, aesthetic surgery, dentistry, in-vitro fertilization, etc.). Motivations underlying medical tourism are among the most diverse, from financial reasons to use of the latest medical equipment and specialist physicians. This paper aims to analyze the international medical tourism, from two different points of view: a necessity or a global business.