Medical tourism in Thailand: a cross-sectional study

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Thinakorn NoreeRichard Smith

Abstract

To investigate the magnitude and characteristics of medical tourism in Thailand and the impact of such tourism on the Thai health system and economy. In 2010, we checked the records of all visits to five private hospitals that are estimated to cover 63% of all foreign patients. We reviewed hospital records of foreign patients and obtained data on their countries of origin, diagnoses and interventions. We surveyed 293 medical tourists to collect demographic characteristics and information on their expenditure and travelling companions. To help understand the impact of medical tourism on the Thai health system, we also interviewed 15 hospital executives and 28 service providers from the private hospitals. We obtained 911,913 records of hospital visits, of which 324,906 came from 104,830 medical tourists. We estimated that there were 167,000 medical tourists in Thailand in 2010. Of the medical tourists who attended our study hospitals, 67,987 (64.8%) came from the eastern Mediterranean region or Asia and 109,509 (34%) of them were treated for simple and uncomplicated conditions - i.e. general check-ups and medical consultations. The mean self-reported non-medical expenditure was 2750 United States dollars. According to the hospita...Continue Reading

References

Dec 3, 2003·Human Resources for Health·Suwit Wibulpolprasert, Paichit Pengpaibon
May 13, 2008·Social Science & Medicine·Marc Lautier
Jun 11, 2010·Journal of Public Health Policy·Laura HopkinsCorinne Packer
Jul 14, 2010·Health Policy·Tricia J Johnson, Andrew N Garman
Dec 17, 2010·The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB·Jeremy Snyder, Valorie A Crooks
May 11, 2011·Bulletin of the World Health Organization·Anchana NaRanong, Viroj NaRanong
Feb 7, 2012·Lancet·Richard SmithJohanna Hanefeld
Sep 6, 2012·Southern Medical Journal·James S DavisCarl I Schulman
Feb 5, 2013·Human Resources for Health·Rapeepong SuphanchaimatViroj Tangcharoensathien
Nov 10, 2013·PloS One·Johanna HanefeldRichard Smith
Jun 3, 2014·Globalization and Health·Thinakorn NoreeRichard Smith
Jun 29, 2014·Social Science & Medicine·Jonathan Crush, Abel Chikanda
May 21, 2015·Human Resources for Health·Lal B RawalSyed Masud Ahmed
Dec 1, 2007·Anthropology & Medicine·Beth Kangas

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 24, 2016·Maturitas·Neil LuntJohanna Hanefeld
Apr 18, 2019·The International Journal of Health Planning and Management·Naasegnibe KuunibeManuela De Allegri
Dec 6, 2017·ANZ Journal of Surgery·Louise BrightmanIngrid Hopper
May 30, 2019·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Johanna Hanefeld, Richard Smith
Oct 14, 2020·Health Policy and Planning·Marco LiveraniVirginia Wiseman
Jul 14, 2020·Endocrine Practice : Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists·Khawla F AliM Cecilia Lansang
Nov 28, 2020·Inquiry : a Journal of Medical Care Organization, Provision and Financing·Mario Alberto de la Puente PachecoBriyis Fontecha Pacheco
Jan 21, 2021·Endocrine Practice : Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists·Khawla F AliM Cecilia Lansang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
gastric bypasses

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Anchana NaRanong, Viroj NaRanong
The Surgeon : Journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland
A L Leahy
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved