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Published on:January 2016
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 2016; 50(2):261-270
Pharmaceutical Education | doi:10.5530/ijper.50.2.6

Medical Tourism: Ethics, Risks and Benefits


Authors and affiliation (s):

Nur Syafiqah Abd Mutalib1, Long Chiau Ming1,2*, Siew Mei Yee3, Poh Lee Wong3, Yee Chang Soh1*

1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Selangor, MALAYSIA.

2Vector-borne Diseases Research Group (VERDI), Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences CoRe, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, MALAYSIA.

3Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy & Allied Health Sciences, SEGi University, Selangor, MALAYSIA.

Abstract:

Background: Despite of the global increase of medical tourism, there is no review done to examine the motivation leads to the practice of medical tourism, opportunities and risks with the practice of medical tourism and the ethical issue of medical tourism. Objectives: This review aims to highlight the issues associated with medical tourism and its facilitators and barriers by evaluating literature of the development and types of medical tourism in these countries. Methodology: We reviewed the relevant articles that were searched using Embase, Medline, Pub Med and CINAHL databases. Risks and benefits as well as ethical issues emerged from the practice of medical tourism were identified. Results: Pull factors that make patients having medical treatment, therapy and services abroad are language familiarity, the need for privacy, quality, bioethical legislation, food, cultural and tourist attractions at their destination. Affluent medical tourists from countries such as Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and Bangladesh also are likely to practise medical tourism for both purpose of cheaper and reliable medical therapy and tourist vacation. Thus, the countries that have certain attractions associated with cheaper healthcare cost will be the most preferred place for them to practise medical tourism. Conclusion: This review can be useful for the patients who want to practise medical tourism, for nations which has already practised medical tourism to improve their quality in medical tourism and aware of ethical concerns that arise from this practice, as well as for the references of the countries which want to practice medical tourism in the future.

Key words: Medical tourism, Hospital care, Health care quality, Access and evaluation, Cross-border medical tourism, Push and pull factors.

 




 

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The Official Journal of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI)
(Registered under Registration of Societies Act XXI of 1860 No. 122 of 1966-1967, Lucknow)

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (IJPER) [ISSN-0019-5464] is the official journal of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI) and is being published since 1967.

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