Navigating Challenges in the Growing Medical Tourism Sector

The Challenges and Opportunities in the Growing Field of Medical Tourism

Medical tourism has been growing rapidly over the last decade as patients travel abroad for affordable and high-quality healthcare, driven by shortages of medical personnel in developed countries. However, this rapid expansion brings the risk of immature growth, which could have serious implications for patient wellbeing.

Doctors Out, Corporate Managers In

Previously, clinics were established, operated, and maintained by doctors, resulting in a patient-centered approach to healthcare. Today, there has been a shift towards a more business-oriented model. For example, it is common to encounter a list of tests and scans for a simple headache, often without a thorough discussion or prior examination. The focus has shifted from patient care to generating revenue through additional tests and scans. Doctors, who once managed their peers and provided feedback for improvement, are now overseen by managers with minimal healthcare experience. This shift has led to decreased quality of care, as managers prioritize financial metrics over effective patient treatment. The result is a system where doctors are incentivized to minimize consultation time and increase patient visits, leading to a lack of competition in medical quality and an increase in patients treated on paper rather than effectively.

Too Much, Too Early

The rapid growth of clinics, hospitals, and healthcare institutions in recent years has also led to changes in their business models. Many institutions are now offering VIP transport, luxury hotel arrangements, and tour services, which diverts focus from the core healthcare services to these ancillary offerings. Often, the staff responsible for these services are overworked, leading to a compromise in the quality of healthcare provided. Local patients also feel the impact, as priority is given to foreign patients, making it harder to secure appointments in local private hospitals. Institutions attempting to handle all aspects of healthcare and tourism in-house often perform averagely across the board, ultimately resulting in subpar service for medical tourists and a waste of resources that could be better spent on improving healthcare.

The Solution

As Mustapha Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our republic, once said, "The one who loves their country the most is the one who does their job the best." It is crucial for everyone to focus on their strengths and dedicate resources to achieving excellence in their respective fields. The best service to customers can be achieved when different people, industries, and specializations collaborate towards a common goal, delivering the highest quality to the consumer.