Question

How does medical tourism relate to cost, access, quality? What are the implications of medical tourism from a market justice perspective? From a social justice perspective? Should medical tourism (between states) be used within the U.S. to improve cost, access, and/or quality? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Medical tourism refers to traveling to another country for medical care.Many factors influence the decision to seek medical care overseas.The reason more Americans have become medical tourists is simply that they are seeking less expensive health care because American health care have the most expensive health care in the world.It is not difficult to find out countries that offer various procedures at 30%-60% of the cost of care in the United States.Other countries can charge less because of lower pay to physicians and other health care workers,much less overhead because patients pay cash and substraction of substantial cost of malpractice insurance.Some people travel for care because treatment is cheaper in another country,others may immigrants,who prefer to return to their home country for health care Still others may travel to receive a procedure or therapy not available in their home country,long waiting time is another reason.The most common procedures that people undergo on medical tourism trips include cosmetic surgery,dentistry,and heart surgery.

Implications: The specific risks of medical tourism depend on the area being visited and the procedures performed,but some general issues identified are

• Communication may be a challenge.In a care facility where you do not speak the language fluently might increase the chance that misunderstanding will arise about the care
• Medication quality may be counterfeit or of poor in some countries
• Antibiotic resistance is a global problem,and resistant bacteria may be more common in other countries than in the United States
• Flying after surgery can increase the risk for blood clots

Medical tourism between states be used in U.S: United States have the most expensive health care system in the world.Still United States is the best place to be for optimum medical care.The reason why?

• The value of human life is considered in extremely high regard in the U.S.A,unlike other non- American or non- European countries
• The latest technological mechanism for patient care,unlike other countries that use pre- owned medical devices,most of them have obsolete technologies
• Humanitarian approach with a friendly attitude towards people belonging to different ethnicities
• Highly trained doctors.