An Introduction To Hospitality

Medical Tourism And Wellness

Chapter I
Prepared by: Ms. Ame-Fil Love L. Magdaraog
A Model for
Understanding
Wellness
Tourism and
Medical
Tourism
DEFINITIONAL ISSUES:

MEDICAL TOURISM WELLNESS TOURISM

 MEDICAL TOURISM AND WELLNESS TOURISM
Source: Global Spa Summit 2011
MEDICAL TOURISM WELLNESS TOURISM
Involves people who travel to a different Involves people who travel to a different
place to receive treatment for a disease, an
place to proactively pursue activities that
ailment, or a condition, or to undergo a maintain or enhance their personal health
cosmetic procedure, and who are seeking and wellbeing, and who are seeking
lower cost of care, higher quality care, better
unique, authentic or location-based
access to care or different care than whatexperiences/therapies not available at
they could receive at home. home
Medical tourist: Generally ill or seeking Wellness tourist: Generally seeking
cosmetic/dental surgical procedures or integrated wellness and prevention
enhancements. approaches to improve their
health/quality of life.
Bottom line: Undertaken by people who are Bottom line: Undertaken by people who
sick. are healthy.
 History of Medical Tourism- Ancient times

• The Sumerians (circa 4000 BC) constructed the earliest known health complexes that were
built around hot springs. These healthcare facilities included majestic elevated temples with
flowing pools.
• During the Bronze Age (circa 2000 BC), hill tribes in what is now known presently as St.
Moritz, Switzerland recognized the health benefits in drinking and bathing in iron-rich
mineral springs. The same bronze drinking cups that they used were found in thermal
springs in France and Germany, which could signify health pilgrimages within these
cultures.
• The Ancient Greeks were the first to lay a foundation for a comprehensive medical tourism
network. In honor of their god of medicine, Asclepius, the Greeks erected the Asclepia
Temples, which became some of the world's first health centers. People from all over,
traveled to these temples to seek cures for their ailments.
 Cont…
• By the year 300 BC, other therapeutic temples flourished under the Greek domain. One
facility called the Epidaurus was the most famous and included services like a gymnasium, a
snake farm, a dream temple, and thermal baths. Other temple spas included the Sanctuary
of Zeus in Olympia and the Temple of Delphi.
• In India, the history of medical tourism was also slowly unfolding with the popularity of yoga
and Ayurvedic medicine. As early as 5000 years ago, constant streams of medical travelers
and spiritual students flocked to India to seek the benefits of these alternative-healing
methods.
• When Rome became a global power, several hot-water baths and springs called thermae
came into existence and gained popularity among the elite. These baths were not only
healthcare facilities, but became commercial and social networking centers for the rich and
the elite.
The Middle Ages
• In Medieval Japan, hot mineral springs called onsen became popular
throughout the nation due to their healing properties. The warrior
clans soon took notice of these springs and began using them to
alleviate pain, heal wounds, and recuperate from their battles.
• Many early Islamic cultures established health care systems that also
catered for foreigners. In 1248 AD, the Mansuri Hospital was built in
Cairo and became the largest and most advanced hospital in the
world of that time. With the capacity to accommodate 8,000 people,
this hospital became a healthcare destination for foreigners
regardless of race or religion.
The Renaissance period
• A village known as Ville d'Eaux or Town of Waters, became famous throughout Europe in
1326 when iron-rich hot springs were discovered within the region. Prominent visitors like
Peter the Great and Victor Hugo visited these wellness resorts. The word “spa”, derived
from the Roman term “salude per aqua” or health through waters, was first used here.
• During the 16th century, the rich and the elite of Europe rediscovered Roman baths and
flocked to tourist towns with spas like St. Mortiz, Ville d'Eaux, Baden Baden, Aachen and
Bath in England. Bath or Aquae Sulis enjoyed royal patronage and was famous
throughout the known world. It became the center of fashionable wellness and became a
playground for the rich and famous.
• The most noteworthy traveler in the history of Medical Tourism was Michel Eyquem de
Montaigne. He was the French inventor of the essay, and was believed to be the father of
luxury travel. He helped write the earliest documented spa guide in medical tourism
history.
The Post-Renaissance Period
• In the 1720s, Bath became the first city in England to receive a covered sewage
system and was ahead of London for several years. The city also received
technological, financial, and social benefits. Roads were paved, streets had lights,
hotels, and restaurants were beautified – all because of Medical Tourism.
• The discovery of the New World brought new destinations for European medical
travelers. During the 1600s, English and Dutch colonists started building log
cabins near mineral springs rich with medicinal properties. During this time, it was
noted that the Native Americans in the New World were adept in the healing arts.
Knowledge in herbal medicine was exceptional and rivalled those in Europe, Asia
or Africa.
• During the 18th and 19th century, several Europeans and Americans continued to
travel to remote areas with spas and health retreats hoping to cure various
ailments like tuberculosis.
Medical Tourism History from the 1900s to 1997

• In 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) was established and became the umbrella
organization for the medical specialist boards in the United States. The ABMS established educational
and professional policies, which became the blueprint of standards around the world.
• In 1958, the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS) was formed. The UEMS is made up of
different National Medical Associations from member nations of the European Unions.

• During the 1960s, India became a destination of choice for pilgrims when the New Age movement began
in the USA. The flower child movement, which drew the elite and socialites of America and the UK,
eventually developed into a fully-fledged medical tourism industry, with yoga and Ayurvedic medicine
rediscovered.
• With the cost of healthcare rising in the 1980s and 1990s, American patients started considering offshore
options, like dental services in Central America. Whilst US doctors were appalled at the idea of seeking
healthcare in foreign hospitals during these periods, Cuba started programs luring foreigners for eye
surgeries, heart and cosmetic procedures.
History of Medical Tourism from 1997 to 2001

• Thailand quickly became the hub for plastic surgery, with fees charged
at a fraction of what Western countries could offer.
 Medical Tourism from 2001 to 2006

• After the events of 9/11 and the construction boom in Asia, medical tourism
continued its massive growth with as many as 150,000 US Citizens traveling to
destinations in Asia and Latin America in 2006. During this time, the dentistry and
cosmetic surgery industries reached new heights in these countries.

Thailand, Singapore and India became legitimate medical destinations due to JCI
accreditation. Other Southeast Asian and Latin American countries are emerging
as healthcare destinations as well with JCI accreditation and partnerships with
prominent US-based health providers.
 Medical Tourism in 2007 and Beyond
• The number of American medical tourists increased to 300,000 in
2007, the largest ever in medical tourism history. This figure is
estimated to reach 1.25 million in 2014, as patients continue to pack
suitcases and board airplanes for offshore procedures such as
face-lifts, bypass surgery or fertility treatments.

In the last few years, several healthcare and insurance companies in

the United States considered medical outsourcing. These offered
their members the possibility to get non-emergency procedures and
surgeries in other countries. Many are also considering foreign
medical procedures as part of a health plan coverage.
 Medical Tourism Association
Medical Tourism is where people who live in one country travel to another country
to receive medical, dental and surgical care while at the same time receiving equal
to or greater care than they would have in their own country, and are traveling for
medical care because of affordability, better access to care or a higher level of
quality of care. “Domestic Medical Tourism” is where people who live in one
country travel to another city, region or state to receive medical, dental and surgical
care while at the same time receiving equal to or greater care than they would have
in their own home city, and are traveling for medical care because of affordability,
better access to care or a higher level of quality of care.
Impacts of Medical Tourism

Positive impacts
1. It increases the sending countries’ residents’ access to health care
services.
2. Medical tourism can help sending countries overcome health care
personnel and infrastructure constraints.
3. Medical tourism increases patients’ choice by giving residents in
sending countries access to treatment that is not available or
outlawed in their home countries.
Impacts of Medical Tourism

Negative Impacts

1. Communication barrier
2. Receiving substandard medical treatment.
3. Medical procedures are inherently risky, and patients may not fully
understand the risk associated with the procedure, especially if the
treatment is received overseas.
4. When patients travel abroad for treatment, they may not receive the
normal continuum of care that they would receive at home.
Examples in the Philippines:
MEDICAL TOURISM Place WELLNESS TOURISM Place
Cosmetic surgery Philippine Hearth Center Ayurveda techniques The Farm at San Benito
Aesthetic procedures Asian Hospital and Massage Nuture wellness village
Medical Center
Dentistry St. Luke’s Medical Center Meditation, mindfulness Eskaya beach resort and
training spa
Dermatology Manila Doctors Hospital retreats Mithi resort and spa
Fertility Treatment Thermal water or hot spring The CHI spa at
therapy Shangri-la's Mactan
resort and spa Cebu
Hair Transplantation Transition therapy (divorce or
job loss)
Stem Cell Therapy yoga
Weight loss surgery
Coronary Artery
bypass surgery
Hip/knee replacement
Cataract surgery
 Reason for Medical Travel
1. Lower-cost care
2. Quality of care
3. Economic climate
4. Procedures not covered by insurance
5. Avoid wait times
6. Obtain experimental or investigational treatments
7. Inbound medical tourists
8. Enjoy vacation
9. To incorporate local therapies
10. sense of entitle ment
Short video

• Short video about rise of Medical Tourism

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShGWNOsfLHg
 1. Does Medical Tourism Promote
Economic Growth? Why?
Question:
Thank you
and Stay
Safe!