What is Medical Tourism? Is it a safe practice?
Ans. Medical tourism also known as Healthcare tourism or Medical Travel is the practice of travelling across international borders to receive medical care for ailments that are otherwise (usually) incurable or expensive in the resident country. Medical Tourism has been prevalent for ages. The first instance of medical travel dates back to the Neolithic & Bronze age when our ancestors bathed in hot mineral springs that healed most of their ailments. Thousands of years ago the Greek pilgrims travelled to Epidauria a small territory in theSaronic Gulf. They believed this territory to be the sanctuary of the healing god Asklepios. Medical tourism as it is today, originated in the 1980’s when people travelled for mainly Cosmetic & Cardiac surgery. Today, this industry is growing at a rapid pace and is estimated to reach a whopping 100 Billion dollars worth by 2012. Affordable medical travel along with growing demand for top class medical treatment are the major factors that have driven and
