One factor that can affect any aspect of medical travel and medical tourism is that the industry can be a victim of its own success. Constantine Constantinides highlighted this previously in his article IMTJ "medical tourism and revenge of the West", arguing that in fact the success of medical travel is self-limiting.
How can this success be self-limiting?
In the case of treatment abroad becomes an attractive option for patients, domestic suppliers and Governments can respond to this trend, becoming more competitive (e.g. by reducing prices to local treatment) or removing the causes and the drivers for the medical travel (for example, changing the location regualtion treatment). Thus, more patients travelling abroad for treatment, the greater the reaction in the internal market and a "balance of trade".
An excellent example of this phenomenon is this week's announcement by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) that intends to undertake a consultation on changes to the rules governing the donation of sperm and ova in the United Kingdom. There was a significant shortage of egg and sperm donors in the United Kingdom due to restrictions in respect of payments that can be made to donors. The compensation payment "maximum" £ 250 for donors of men and women made the search for donor eggs and sperm has far exceeded supply. Waiting lists can be as long as two or three years for these patients eligible for NHS treatment.
Removal of donor anonymity has also been a contributing factor to the donor reluctance to come forward. According to the latest HFEA statistics (2008), women only 1184 have donated eggs and only had 396 new sperm donors in 2008. About 2.000 babies per year are born in the United Kingdom using donated eggs, sperm and embryos. As a result, we have seen a growing number of UK couples seeking infertility treatment abroad; has been one of the fastest growing areas of medical tourism. (Background, see "new research paper provides an overview of infertility tourism"). The HFEA's response to the growing number of infertile couples going abroad is therefore consider how to reduce this .... by increase payments and incentives to egg and sperm donors and thus increase the supply of eggs and sperm. Payments may increase more than £ 1000.
It is unlikely that changes will have any immediate effect on the market sector. No decision will be made until the end of the public consultation HFEA next year. The three-month public consultation will not start until January 2011 and HFEA is expected to be included in Commission of Quality Care in the United Kingdom as a result of public spending cuts to UK. But there is a clear warning here for those involved in medical tourism and travel medicine sector. Don't put all eggs in one basket. Or, even worse, be aware that any segment of the market desk doctor may be limited by their own success when domestic suppliers and Governments seek to reverse the trend.
Evacuation of contributor secrecy has additionally been a helping element to the benefactor hesitance to approach. As indicated by the most recent HFEA detail (2008), ladies just 1184 have given eggs and just had 396 new sperm givers in 2008. Something like 2.000 infants for every year are conceived in the United Kingdom utilizing gave eggs, sperm and incipient organisms. Therefore, we have seen a developing number of UK couples looking for barrenness medication abroad; has been one of the quickest developing zones of therapeutic tourism. (Foundation, see "new research paper gives a review of barrenness tourism"). The HFEA's reaction to the developing number of barren couples going abroad is thusly think about how to diminish this .... by increment installments and motivating forces to egg and sperm givers and along these lines build the supply of eggs and sperm. Installments may build more than £ 1000
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