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How medical tourism is a right step in the right direction

Going abroad to receive treatment for medical problems is not a new thing anymore. The medical tourism industry has been flourishing at a rapid rate, as patients get cost-effective treatments in foreign countries. They not only receive cheaper healthcare services, but also get it at high quality. Medical tourism has led several countries to develop their infrastructure, medical facilities and human resources. This improvement in healthcare services and facilities has kept medical tourism on a high at various destinations all over the world. It has especially helped the local population, as they have started receiving better medical treatments and surgical procedures.

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Previously, the treatment using latest technology and equipment used to be rarely available at various places. However, it is now available in foreign countries and at affordable costs. This is a great pull factor for medical tourists. An increase in medical tourism definitely supports the annual revenues of a country. A larger number of medical tourists mean more foreign exchange earnings for a nation. As this happens, there goes further advancement in medical technology and care services. Medical tourism also leads to the upgrading of infrastructure, physicians’ knowledge and overall healthcare standards.

More professionally educated and experienced doctors, physicians and surgeons become available. Further, if such physicians come to a country for offering treatment to patients, they become important assets for that country. However, it could also lead to the problem of brain drain in other countries from where these physicians are moving out. The countries where they are moving are surely at an advantage, as this practice helps them overcome the shortage of specialists. In addition, the local population also benefits through the expertise of these physicians. Local people are able to receive the best of treatments within their own country and at affordable prices.

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Apart from the benefits of medical tourism for public health, its risks can also not be avoided. One of the major risks from medical tourism is the sidelining of local public. Specialty clinics and hospitals get so busy treating foreign tourists that they hardly get time to pay attention to the treatment of their own country’s citizens. The management at medical facilities also remains occupied in planning for the promotion of medical tourism. Thus, local people’s health remains neglected. Additionally, the government spends various resources in the training of physicians who later choose to serve at foreign facilities where medical tourism is on a high. Therefore, while the residents of some countries find the growth of medical tourism highly advantageous, some other countries come at a loss.

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