Today, people can travel to different parts of the world with cheap flights. In addition, they can access the information they need about the medical services offered in different parts of the world online. They can even read the opinions and reviews of other patients who have visited the target country for medical, dental, and surgical care.
This helps them make more informed decisions and choose the ideal country to meet their medical needs.
Health Tourism Definition
Health tourism is a type of tourism that aims to recover, promote and achieve mental and physical health in less than 24 hours and less than a year. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Defines Health Tourism as
The use of services that improve or enhance a person’s health and morale (using mineral water, weather, or medical interventions) and in an off-site location far from the one’s resident – which lasts more than 24 hours
Some private hospitals have developed supplemental financial resources due to the rise of health tourism after the Asian financial crisis.
Health Tourism factors
Five factors lead to medical services abroad: familiarity with the destination country, availability, cost, quality, and bioethical laws of that country (such as abortion, fertility, and euthanasia), in addition to the high cost of treatment in the land of origin or illegality that causes people to travel to other countries. Also, the desire for typical tourist attractions such as hotels, favorable weather, food, cultural and historical visits, and medical processes are among the factors turning to medical tourism.
Travel that focuses on medical treatments and the use of health services is known as health tourism; it covers a more comprehensive range of health-related tourism, including health and preventive treatments, rehabilitation, and curative treatments. Today, medical tourism is one of the most popular types of tourism. In addition to providing medical and health services, it contributes to the prosperity of areas such as hoteling, transportation, markets, and other services and sectors of the industry.
Is health tourism popular among people?
According to research conducted at the University of Tehran, Iran, the findings show that the three main factors in the development of health tourism in Iran are the brand of the company in charge of health tourism, the relationship between the departments and medical centers of the country and the concentration of services.
In 2003, about 350,000 patients from developed countries traveled to developing countries to receive health services. Iran is set to become one of the leading health tourism hubs in the region by 2025, following a 20-year vision. Iran is one of the tourism hubs in the area that prevents currency outflow and brings significant foreign exchange earnings to the country.
Although planning, management, and marketing activities have been undertaken in recent years to attract foreign tourists, due to the lack of coherence and coordination of the public and private sectors and, in particular, the lack of discipline in the field of health tourism, economic outcomes in Iran have been unfavorable. Iran is one of the most famous tourist destinations globally for cosmetic surgery.
Iran is also known as the capital of rhinoplasty (nose job) surgery globally, with annual statistics of 200,000 surgeries.
Types of tourism
According to the World Tourism Organization definition, tourism is a set of activities that a person performs independently or in groups where he does not live. People who spend at least one night and a maximum of one year in a place other than their residence for sightseeing, recreation, and leisure are called tourists.
There are two types of tourism: complex tourism and soft tourism.
In complex tourism, one will perform risky activities that one has never experienced before. In soft tourism, one engages in daily, low-risk activities in the tourist destination such as hiking, sightseeing, and visiting historical sites. Most health tourism is soft tourism because the person deals with it either before the operation, which may not be in good physical condition, or after the surgery.
When the person is recovering and needs to be taken care of, be doubly cautious and not perform intense and risky activities. Improving medical standards combined with lower medical costs, globalization, and trade liberalization in health services have paved the way for the rapid growth of medical tourism in Iran.
Moj Aramesh Amitis Company is the first company in Iran to obtain a health tourism license from the Ministry of Health of Iran. As a result of the growth of medical science in the last few years, Iran has become one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Middle East.
Most doctors who work with Moj Aramesh Amitis Company and study at prestigious medical universities travel worldwide to get acquainted with modern science. Most Iranian specialists are also members of medical associations around the world.
Many public hospitals are available in Iran, making it one of the most popular health tourism destinations. Most privately funded hospitals also have an international admissions department. Health tourism means traveling to another country to achieve health. This trip is to countries that have a better health care system.
These trips may be for various reasons such as reasonable prices in the destination country, lack of waiting in a queue to perform the desired operation, up-to-date medical equipment and technology in the destination country, the presence of skilled and educated specialists, the presence of relatives and family in the destination country and easier access to services in the desired country.
What are the components of health tourism?
Factors that make up medical tourism are tourists seeking medical treatment and the location of medical service providers (hospitals and clinics) and doctors. A medical tourist can distance himself from his regular life and experience various things, as well as enjoy adventurous activities in addition to the treatment experience.
The culture of a nation influences the prosperity of a country’s tourism, especially its health tourism. There are two groups (areas) of health tourism, including regions with medical tourists and areas with health tourists, in which different services are provided. As a healthy tourist, you maintain your health and well-being (such as visiting a spa and drinking water). On the other hand, medical tourism focuses on treating and improving a patient’s disease (using hospitals and clinics).
Health Tourism Importance
As a result, health tourism is defined as tourism whose primary purpose is to promote physical, mental, or spiritual health through health and fitness activities. This is done by increasing the ability of people to meet their needs and improve their performance in the community. This is. A healthy person is the cornerstone of sustainable development.
Factors influencing the prosperity of health tourism
Existence of tourist and pilgrimage attractions, suitable weather for four seasons, short waiting time for receiving medical services, high quality of services, political stability and security, positive behavior of translators and company staff, the existence of translators in hospital, low rate of medical error, Clean and hygienic environment, reasonable cost of patient care, manner of hospital staff.
Also should be taken into account the performance of companies facilitating health tourism services, the existence of accommodation facilities for the patient, the possibility of prior consultation with physicians via the Internet, the international reputation of physicians, the chance of follow-up after returning to the country, rapid issuance of medical visas, acceptance of international health insurance.
Branding and advertising to attract health tourists, the health level of the destination country in health indicators, variety of services, cultural commonalities with the destination country, how to treat and welcome the people of the destination country are other factors that affect the attraction of medical tourists.
Selection of a country as a medical tourism destination
Researchers in this field say: In attracting health tourists to medical tourism. One should always pay attention to four essential items in this field; The capabilities of medical professionals, state-of-the-art technologies and international standards, treatment affordability are imperative factors in attracting health tourists.
In many countries, medical tourists face numerous factors, including high costs, more accessible international travel facilities, global economic exchange rates, rapid advances in medical technology, improved health services, and more accessible Internet access, which has caused the foundation of companies that act as intermediaries between patients and hospital services in the country that have boosted the health tourism industry.
With the implementation of international standards and laws in different parts of the world, people are now looking for the best quality of treatment, which can be upgraded according to the infrastructure and the use of existing strengths and opportunities of the country and increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
What is the reason for the popularity of health tourism?
Health tourism is estimated to increase as health care costs increase in developed countries, such as the United States. Many insurance companies feel that health tourism is a cost-effective way to reduce costs. Patients can also benefit from superior medical services at much lower prices.
Many famous countries for health tourism have doctors, specialists, and nurses who have been trained and worked abroad. As a result, they can speak English and follow international standards for diagnosis and treatment. These factors give international patients peace of mind, ensuring the quality of health services in the destination country.
Health tourism services
These services cover all the needs of an outpatient, including:
- Providing online services to the patient (visit and consultation)
- Planning to receive medical services with the highest international standards in quality hospitals and clinics (for all medical procedures and at a reasonable cost)
- Provide treatment by skilled and internationally trained physicians and surgeons
- Airport transfer, preoperative examination, 24-hour support, accommodation services (for patients and their families)
- High-quality pre-hospital and post-hospital care services
Why health tourism?
As mentioned, health tourism is attractive for various reasons, from the cost of surgery in the country of origin to the quality of health care in the destination country.
Lower costs
The cost of surgery in some countries is much lower than the cost of the same surgery in developed countries. The price difference can be vast and significant for someone not covered by insurance or whose health care is not covered by insurance. This is especially true for cosmetic surgery./ Health Tourism in Iran
Luxury and private nursing
Some patients are attracted to luxury services such as the spas offered by some foreign hospitals, offering these services as an added benefit in addition to cheap surgery. Some hospitals have rooms that look more like a hotel than a regular hospital room.
Holidays in a foreign country
Sounds exciting. Travel to a new country to receive medical treatment, accommodation, and entertainment in that country. This advantage is one of the most significant drivers of health tourism. It is possible to travel abroad to receive the medical services you require and stay and enjoy the destination country at the same time.
Use of specific rules and regulations
Some travelers seek to use specific governments, insurance companies, or hospitals to set particular rules. Some laws may typically impose restrictions on patients in the country of origin. More straightforward rules in the destination country may be a way for these patients to receive treatment.
This is especially true of infertility treatment and transplant surgery.
Skilled and talented surgeons
Surgeons in some countries are often known for their talent and expertise in a particular area of surgery. Iranian surgeons are often considered in plastic surgery because of their vital skills. This is due to the stunning results and high satisfaction of patients with cosmetic surgery in Iran.
Thailand is reportedly the leading destination for health tourism for gender reassignment. It is easier to qualify for surgery in Thailand, which is considerably reduced. Having performed this surgery repeatedly, surgeons are also highly skilled in this area.
It is often a surprise to many medical tourists that their doctor has taken additional courses abroad. These doctors often speak several languages and may even be licensed in a foreign country such as the United States and their own country.
Various factors may influence the choice of the destination country. We will refer to these cases in the following articles.
