Medical tourism: the answer to the problem of global health?

A recent article from McKinsey International highlights the magnitude of the challenge that the leaders of the Governments of developed countries will have to deal with sooner or later. The article analyzes the growing proportion of the wealth of a country that will be dedicated to the health of its citizens in future years.

In Europe currently around 9% of GDP is spent on health care. in the USA is higher, more close to 16% of GDP. Over the past fifty years, the increase in expenditure in OECD countries Healthcare has been above 2% of GDP ... which means that healthcare is taking an increasing share of national wealth. But what happens if this continue? McKinsey says that "If current trends continue to 2050, most OECD countries will spend one fifth of GDP on health care. By 2080, Switzerland and United States will dedicate himself more than half of GDP for him and until 2100 most other OECD countries will reach this level of spending. "

These are quite startling statistics! There is a decent article analysis, outlining the factors of supply and demand that drive growth and offer some arguments why this trend won't or can't continue at this rate. However, the harsh reality is that whatever the Governments and their citizens, they will be confronted by the weight of ever increasing health care costs.

And that is why health care is becoming global, medical tourism is being talked about as one of the solutions. Increasingly, Governments will not be able to provide and consumers will not be able to afford health care they need. The global market in healthcare expands to meet the growing demand of consumers and Governments to low-cost treatment abroad. And this is where enter the medical tourism.

Reference: healthcare Costs: a market-based view: International McKinsey

India: a global destination for medical tourism

India is the target global top desk doctor, according to a new report from market research. A study on the Indian healthcare sector, conducted by RNCOS, revealed the medical tourism market of the country to be worth an additional $ 310 million, is expected to rise to $ 2 billion by 2012. Medical infrastructure and technology in India are accepted to be on a par with the United Kingdom and the United States and hospital expenses accessible services efficient and make it an attractive option for patients who seek treatment abroad. Figures show that 120 thousand patients overseas traveled to India in 2005 to receive private medical treatment and this should increase by 30%. The most common treatments that visitors are seeking cardiac surgery, knee surgery, cosmetic surgery and dental treatments, procedures that patients may not be eligible under the NHS and that generally have long waiting lists in the United Kingdom.

RNCOS completed: "overview of the health sector shows that the medical infrastructure and technology [India] is on par with the United States, United Kingdom and Europe". India can vie with some of their best hospitals and treatment centres in the world and thus make it a favourable destination.