MAKERERE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL

BTTM THREE

TOURISM BEHAVIOUR AND MANAGEMENT

GROUP EIGHT, MEDICAL TOURISM.

NAME REGNO. SIGNITURE

1. MATOVU RONALD 14/U/18986/PS

2. MBABAZI MAXIMILLIANA 14/U/19030/PS

3. MIKE AZIMIO MAWOLLE 14/T/22195/PS

4. MONGO RACHEAL 14/U/19090/PS

5. MPABWA MOSES KAMOGA 13/U/17297/PS

6. MUBIRU GEORGE 14/U/19112/PS

Medical tourism
Medical tourism refers to people traveling to a country other than their own to obtain medical
treatment. In the past this usually referred to those who traveled from less-developed countries to
major medical centers in highly developed countries for treatment unavailable at home.
However, in recent years it may equally refer to those from developed countries who travel to
third-world countries for lower priced medical treatments.

Health tourism is a wider term for travels that focus on medical treatments and the use of
healthcare services. It covers a wide field of health-oriented, tourism ranging from preventive
and health-medical Tourism History - Ancient Times conductive treatment to rehabilitation and
curative forms of travel. Wellness tourism is a related field.

Studies of ancient cultures depict a strong link between religion and healthcare, which dates back
thousands of years. Most ancient civilizations recognized the therapeutic effects of mineral
thermal springs and sacred temple baths.

History of medical tourism:

Medical tourism dates back thousands of years to when Greek pilgrims traveled from all over the
Mediterranean to the small territory in the sardonic gulf called Epidauria. Epidauria became the
original travel destination for medical tourism.

Spa towns and sanitarium were the form of early medical tourism. People travel to these
destinations for medical benefits. From the 18th century wealthy Europeans travelled to spas
from Germany to the Nile.

In Roman Britain, patients took the waters at a shrine at Bath, a practice that continued for 2,000
years.

In 1326, a little village in east Belgium gained overnight fame after the discovery of the iron-rich
hot springs. It developed into a full-fledged health resort in 16th century.

History of medical tourism in India:

India is also historical medical tourism destination. The yoga gained popularity 5000 years ago.
Indian medical science is as old as the Indus valley civilization

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India has been visited by constant stream of health travelers seeking to heel themselves through
Ayurveda.
Ayurveda has always been preserved by the people of India as a traditional science of life from
thousands of years.
Susruta was the very famous surgeon of ancient India.
Reasons of medical tourism:
High savings
No wait-lists
High quality treatment
World class facilities
Access to latest technology
Best surgeons
Customer care
Travel opportunities

Some Statistics of Medical Tourism Industry

The market size of medical tourism industry is estimated near about USD 10.5 billion in
2012
It is estimated to reach a market worth USD 32.5 billion in 2019 at a CAGR of 17.9% from
2013 to 2019
There are approx. 50 million uninsured Americans which are willing to go abroad for
affordable and quality medical care
900000 Americans traveled abroad for medical care in 2013
Patients (US) traveling abroad can save from 30 to 90 percentage on a procedure, including
their travel expenditures

List of medical tourism destinations (countries)

Asia- China, India, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan,
Turkey, UAE, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan
The Americas- Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, United States

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Europe- Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Russia, Spain
Africa- South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco
Others- Australia, Barbados, Cuba, Jamaica

Top Destinations By No. of tourists

DESTINATION NO. OF VISITORS (2015) % SAVINGS TAKING USA AS A BASE

THAILAND 1200000 50-70

MEXICO 1000000 40-65

USA 800000 -

SINGAPORE 610000 30-45

INDIA 400000 65-90

MALAYSIA 250000 65-80

BRAZIL 180000 25-40

TURKEY 110000 50-65

TAIWAN 90000 40-55

COSTA RICA 50000 40-65

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TOP DESTINATIONS BY TREATMENT

Country Treatment

Antigua Addiction and Recovery

Barbados Fertility/IVF

Brazil Cosmetic Surgery

Costa Rica Dentistry

Hungary Dentistry

India Orthopedics, Cardiology

Israel Fertility/IVF

Malaysia Health Screenings

Mexico Dentistry, Bariatric

Singapore Cancer

South Africa Cosmetic Surgery, Cardiac

Thailand Everything

Turkey Vision

Top Specialties for Medical Travelers

Cosmatic Surgery
Dentistry
Cardiovascular
Orthopedics
Cancer
Reproduction
Weight Loss
Scans, Tests, Health Screenings and Second Opinions

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STEPS OF SEEKING TREATMENT WITH MEDICAL TOURISM

Patient prequel

Dest./hospital
Follow up care
selection

Arrange follow up
Travel back
care

Travel to selected
Recovery abroad
hospital

Treatment

Modern Medical Tourism

Today medical tourism is becoming a common practice. People are travelling abroad to receive
medical care, more especially to receive complex surgeries such as heart value replacement,
plastic surgery in Brazil, kidney transplant and among others. It could be cosmetics, serious
health issues, conditions.
Among the worlds most popular medical tourism destinations are Thailand, India, Malaysia,
Singapore, Costa Rica, Columbia, South Africa and Brazil. Among all those countries well be
looking on some of them and what are they best in this aspect.

India In Medical Tourism Industry

The medical tourism industry in India is poised to become the next success story after software/it
industry
Medical tourism has boosted with the number of overseas patients touching 400000 in 2013 as
against 10,000 in 2000
Apollo hospitals alone has treated 95,000 international patients in 2013
The current size of the Indian medical tourism sector is Rs. 7,500 Crore and likely to touch Rs.
12,000 Crore by 2015 with annual growth rate of 25 percent
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India have more than 19 JCI accredited hospitals and the no. is growing significantly.

Why India?

Availability Of Availability Of
Low Cost Medical Advanced
Experts Equipment's

No Waiting Specialty
Time Treatment

SWOT analysis of medical tourism in India

Strengths:
Indian doctors are recognized as amongst the best at international levels; skillful, qualified,
share information with patients and are readily available, whenever required.
High quality treatment in low cost.
Medical technology, equipment, facilities and infrastructure are at par with international
standards.
Doctors and staff good at English which makes it comfortable for tourists from English
speaking countries.
Because of absence of racial discrimination, customers, especially from Africa, are
comfortable in India
Education system provides 30,000 doctors and nurses each year which support the growing
medical sector in India.
Foreigners are also attracted to Indian Systems of Medicine like Ayurveda, Yoga

Weakness:

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 As of 2011, India only had 19 JCI and 63 NABH accredited hospitals which decreases the
size of potential market especially for customers from developed countries.
Though the Cost of treatment is less in India, other costs like accommodation may prove to
be inhibitive, especially for customers from low income economies.
Maximum medical tourist is from non-English speaking parts of the world which highlights
the need for training of linguists for example specialists of Arabic.

Opportunities:
Cost of medical treatment in developed western world remaining high, provides Indian
medical tourism sector with a unique opportunity. Patients from third world countries, where
comparable quality medical care is not available, seek treatment outside their home countries.
They compare western service providers with Indian service providers and find Indian
medical care cost effective.
The medical care facilities in other South Asian countries are also not up to the mark.
Patients from these countries find good quality care in neighborhood, where travel time as
well as the cultural divide is less.
Employers in US are looking for ways to decrease their employees medical expenses
providing appropriate health coverage concurrently. Employers will look for low cost care in
India and other Asian countries.
Insurance companies in western countries are offering full cover and care in home country at
a higher premium payment. Insurance companies are offering packages where customers can
choose a lower premium but will have to get them treated at hospitals with comparable
quality outside the country, with which they have tie-ups. Indian accredited hospitals can
choose to compete for a share of this segment.
Countries that operate public health-care systems are often so taxed that it can take
considerable time to get non-urgent medical care.
Threats:
Lack of infrastructure and visa problems.
High competition from other Asian countries like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia etc.

United States of America

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 As the top developed economy in the World, the United States provides a benchmark for
many other countries for many sectors and for this case health care.
The United States medical systems performs millions of medical procedures every year for
both its local population and international medical tourists who travel across seas in search of
the very best treatment the world has to offer.
Excellent recovery accommodation and tourist attractions make a trip around the United
States a pleasant experience with less congested medical institutions which helps reduce
waiting time to less than zero.

Medical Tourism In Uganda

Medical tourism is a relatively new concept in Uganda and also in East Africa region but has
potential. Both private and public sectors are investing and establishing good hospital
facilities, clinics, SPAS and improved hospitals, traditional medicines and better HIV/AIDS
management.
Medical tourism in Uganda is promising to drive forward both the health care and tourism
sector. The Uganda investment Authority is working to ensure Uganda is well positioned
with facilities that meet chief drivers of the growing medical tourism market i.e affordability,
high quality and excellent services.
The main attractions visiting Uganda are the hot springs such as those at Ihamba,
Sampaya,Kitagata, Buranga, Nyamasizi that are said to have high mineral quality.
Availability of fertile women service and advanced HIV/AIDS research and management
programmers are some of the factors drawing patients to the country.
Uganda only gets about 70,000 visitors a your therefore the medical tourism industry is tiny.
Herbal medicines have also become very attractive options to patients who prefer to take
herbals for specific issues like sexual problems, diabetes and among others.

What Uganda Offers In Medical Tourism

Internationally accredited medical facilities using the latest technology. For example open
heart and fertility center.
The fertility center has team of experienced doctors that specifically deal in issues like
infracyfoplasmic sperm injection, laparoscopic surgery.

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 Medications are relatively lower than other countries in the region and that is compared to
Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Benefits of medical tourism
Personalized attention
Able to save on the cost of treatment
New culture
Stress release programmes
Affordability and cost effectiveness
High quality health care
Immediate service
Travel opportunity
Problems associated with medical tourism
Transmission of diseases
Complications after surgery
Lack of follow up
Legal issues
Bureaucracy
Lack of specialists

Conclusion
The medical tourism is an outsourcing medical services primarily expensive surgery to low
cost countries. It offers financial value for growing burden of the costs in matured markets
like USA. It also provides an alternative for millions of uninsured people to receive
affordable and accessible medical services from developing countries.
Medical tourism sector in India is still in a nascent stage. The medical tourism industry offers
high potential for India primarily because of its inherent advantages in terms of cost and
quality. However in the wake of mounting competition, there is a dire need of careful policy
intervention so as to reap the full benefits from inherent advantages and enhanced
capabilities.

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