What are the types of medical tourism? People travel for all sorts of reasons, so why not for healthcare? Medical tourism is the practice of travelling out of one’s hometown or country to seek medical treatment elsewhere. This is an age-old practice that has been recorded throughout modern human history. Why Do People Travel For Healthcare? Health and disease are universal concerns that affect everyone at some point in their lives. Hence, it is only natural that we will do anything to maintain and obtain a healthy state of mind and body. The reasons that people travel to foreign destinations for medical treatments are varied. Some people travel to other countries for cheaper healthcare, to seek treatment that is not available locally, for experimental and novel therapies, or to find healthcare that suits their specific beliefs and requirements. Types Of Medical Tourism Medical tourism is classified based on the home country and destination of travellers. If a person travels out of their home country to a foreign destination seeking medical treatment, this type of medical tourism is called outbound medical tourism. If a person travels from their country of residence to return to their home country for healthcare services, it is referred to as inbound medical tourism. Travel within one's own home country or country of residency but outside of one’s locality is called domestic medical tourism. Most people who partake in medical tourism are seeking highly specialized treatment. The most common specialities sought by medical travellers include: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Cancer care Heart surgery Brain surgery Paediatric issues Alternative medicine such as Ayurveda and eastern medicine Infertility treatments Stem cell therapy Organ donation Cosmetic and correctional surgery Addiction and psychiatric care