Medical Tourism

Medical tourism, a complex interplay of healthcare, economics, and culture, offers both opportunities and challenges for patients, providers, and nations alike.

Who seeks medical services abroad, and why? Which procedures are most commonly performed, and which countries are hotspots for medical tourism? What role do intermediary healthcare facilitators play? This book offers an accessible introduction to this multifaceted topic, answering all of these questions and more. The book also explores a variety of issues related to medical tourism, including patients' concerns about quality of care and safety and regulatory gray areas that can arise when medical care crosses national boundaries. A collection of five engaging case studies help bring the subject to life, illustrating concepts and issues discussed in the text. A glossary and annotated directory of resources round out the volume.

Lydia L. Gan, PhD, is Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, USA. She teaches courses in health economics and principles of economics. Dr. Gan has written extensively on medical tourism, including 30 journal articles and 2 book chapters.