Buying and Selling Healthcare – where does medical tourism fit?

Medical Tourism refers to people travelling abroad to obtain medical treatment. It is often for surgery (cosmetic or otherwise) or similar treatments. Factors that have led to the increasing popularity of medical travel have been: • High cost of healthcare • Long waiting times • Ease of travel • Improvement in both technology and standards However, the perceptions of medical tourism are not always positive and both Purchasers and Providers are evaluating the risks involved and whether it has a future in a global healthcare market. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized these trends and launched a body (World Alliance for Patient Safety) to assist governments, as purchasers and Hospitals as providers, to set patient safety standards. The oral presentation will cover the changing global landscape for buying and selling healthcare, from both a purchaser and provider perspective, together with current emerging trends.