In the recent years, a considerable number of Chinese patients have traveled abroad, particularly to the US, for healthcare. The medical infrastructure of China though very well advanced, is not as evolved as the US. This means affluent patients from China are seeking high quality medical facilities in foreign shores, like the USA.
USA is trying to boost this trend by attracting more Chinese patients to different American medical tourism destinations. USA has rightly calculated business opportunity in this trend. The middle class Chinese have gained more buying power and want to afford worldly luxuries and privileges. USA is trying to collaborate with Chinese authorities for getting more patients from their country.
What is the prospect of this new trend?
Previously Chinese citizens visited USA for luxury holidays and shopping spree. They want the high end branded products at lower prices. Chinese government imposes a high tax rate on foreign products and US based brands, which makes such products costlier in China. The trend has changed from enjoying shopping spree to getting high quality healthcare services.
No one can deny that US based hospitals are capable of offering a wide range of advanced medical treatments. The healthcare authorities and medical tourism facilitators based in USA should join hands to spread awareness regarding different benefits they offer. If USA can procure the help of Chinese authorities then this opportunity will increase manifolds.
Medical tourism and the Chinese
In the year 2013, Chinese citizens made around 97 million foreign trips. Many of them traveled just for pleasure, some for business purposes and also a segment of the total number of travelers visited foreign countries for getting medical treatments. At present, the top most medical tourism destinations for the Chinese citizens are Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.
However, the affluent Chinese individuals have taken a fancy to travel to Switzerland and USA for medical treatments. This trend has been confirmed by Hurun, a research firm that tracks the spending of rich Chinese citizens.
According to Hubei Spring International Travel Service, South Korea has emerged as one of the popular medical tourism destinations for cosmetic surgery among Chinese citizens. More than thirty thousand Chinese citizens traveled to South Korea in 2012 for getting cosmetic procedures done. Chinese travel agencies are happily exploiting the new trend of medical tourisms and offering lucrative packages for Five Star hotel stay and medical facilities in foreign countries. For increasing the popularity of medical tourism USA has to tie up with the biggest travel and tourism agencies of China.
The prospects are improving
Ten years ago only a handful of Chinese patients traveled to US for getting treatments. The statistics have improved a lot since then. Last year, around 1.8 million Chinese tourists visited United Sates and spent an approximate $21.1 billion. By making effective changes in the visa policy, US authorities can increase the number of Chinese tourist visits. The US hospitals are trying to lower medical expenses so that more number of Chinese can visit Los Angeles, New York and California for treatments.
Stiff competition
South East Asian countries can give US stiff competition in the coming years. Countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore have already become the key players of medical tourism industry. Medical treatments in these countries are much cheaper and visa policies are comparatively less bothersome. To beat the competition US must come up with innovative solutions.
Many Chinese citizens are seeking healthcare abroad in developed countries like US, Switzerland and Canada. US is trying to attract more Chinese patients with the aid of Chinese travel agencies and healthcare authorities.
