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Developing marketing strategies and plans
Developing marketing strategies and plans
Weaknesses of medical tourism
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Background Recently, there has been a large number of Americans flying to India for medical procedures. The practice of traveling abroad to receive both elective and non-elective medical procedures is called medical tourism (Steklof 722). The number of Americans who traveled overseas to receive medical treatment increased from 500,000 in 2005 to 750,000 in 2007 (Steklof 724). Many of these medical tourists are choosing to travel abroad due to rising healthcare costs and the difficulty to retrieve healthcare in a timely manner in his the United States (Maeghani 18). Americans practicing medial tourism are likely uninsured or are considered underinsured. The number of Americans with no health insurance has increased from 31 million in 1987 (Cortez 72) to 46 million in 2008 (Meghani 18). Uninsured Americans are not the only individuals interested in the practice of medical tourism. Many self-insured companies and insurance companies have encouraged their employees and policyholders to practice medial tourism (Meghani 19). Surprisingly, U. S. state and local governments have also shown an interest in offering the option to have non-invasive procedures preformed abroad (Meghani 19). Research estimates revenues will bring in $2 billion by 2012 from medical tourism (Shetty 671). The recent increase in revenues can be attributed to the neoliberal reform that has taken place over the past few years in India. Neoliberalism is “a modern politico-economic theory favoring free trade, privatization, minimal government intervention in business, and reduced public expenditure on social services (Neoliberalsim).” In 2007, the Apollo Hospital Group, a private entity, opened its first international branch for medical tourist in Che... ... middle of paper ... ...f Medical Tourism." Developing World Bioethics ISSN (2011): 1-14. "Neoliberalism." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. . Sengupta, Amit. "Medical Tourism: Reverse Subsiday for the Elite." Chicago Journals 36.2 (2011): 312-319. Shetty, Priya. "Medical tourism booms in India, but at what cost?" World Report (2010): 671-672. Steklof, Cary D. "Medical Tourism And The Legal Impediments To Recovery In Cases Of Medical Malpractice." Washington University Global Studies Law Review (2011): 721-742. United Airlines. United Airlines Inc. Web. . Varman, Rohit and Ram Manohar Vikas. "Rising Markets and Failing Health: An Inquiry into Subaltern Health Care Consumption under Neoliberalism." Journal of Macromarketing (2007): 162-172.
As healthcare costs continue to escalate in the United States, employer healthcare plans are looking for alternatives pricing plans to lower healthcare insurance costs for their employees. Blue Ridge Paper Products (BRPP) is one company in Canton, North Carolina who is attempting to decrease healthcare costs for their employees by offering health promotion incentives and more cost effective provider reimbursement options (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2008). McLaughlin and McLaughlin (2008) explain while the health promotion strategies they have instituted have been successful at lowering BRPP’s healthcare claims, they have found it difficult to negotiate lower costs with local healthcare providers. In this paper, I will discuss possible consumer and provider bargaining strategies with regarding to lowering healthcare costs; the benefits of a large academic medical center and a large tertiary community hospital; and finally, how medical global tourism will affect state and national healthcare policies.
Health care advancements in America are notably the best in the world. We continually strive for preventions and cures of diseases. America has the best medical scientists and physicians that specialize in their medical fields. According to Joseph A. Califano Jr. (2003), "what makes America health care system great is its ability to attract the finest minds in our society," that can help the sick by preventing and curing medical complications. (p. 18). We are noted worldwide for our medical care and physicians from other countries jump at the opportunity to join the American medical system.
The number of doctors that present in the United States of America directly affects the communities that these doctors serve and plays a large role in how the country and its citizens approach health care. The United States experienced a physician surplus in the 1980s, and was affected in several ways after this. However, many experts today have said that there is currently a shortage of physicians in the United States, or, at the very least, that there will be a shortage in the near future. The nation-wide statuses of a physician surplus or shortage have many implications, some of which are quite detrimental to society. However, there are certain remedies that can be implemented in order to attempt to rectify the problems, or alleviate some of their symptoms.
Many developed countries in Europe and the west which are facing a severe dearth of doctors are trying to tackle this problem by bringing in health care professionals from other countries. In a survey it was found that
People from other continents tend to immigrate to the United States for more opportunity and freedom. It is the responsibility of the healthcare providers to learn about different cultures to better accomplish treatment for these cultures. A better understanding of all the different cultures will help with miscommunication within the medical field of practice with their cultural diverse patients.
In 1954 another landmark act was passed in which all functions relating to the health and maintenance of healthcare to Indian Nations was given to the Surgeon General of the United States Public Health System (Wallechinsky). Within a year 48 hospitals, 18 health centers and 13 school infirmaries had been ...
While doing my rotations in New York, it was exhilarating to see first-hand the interdependence of research, modern/advanced medicine and infrastructure. I saw for myself, the difference these advances made in the care of patients and medical outcome thereof. On the other hand I was also heartbroken as I realized from case to case what difference such facilities as I was exposed to in New York could have made in the life of my people in Nigeria considering the high mortality rate I have witnessed in Nigeria. I resolved in my heart to seek the opportunity to train in the United States with the hope that one day I would be able to replicate to the extent I can, the quality of care I have seen in the United States for patients in my
Marxist theory argued that the problem is not just about access to medical care. It is the capitalist economy that defines health and medicine. Under the umbrella of this system, “the main goal of medicine is not health but profit. The profit turns doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical industry into multibillion do...
The health care systems of the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, and Switzerland cover everyone and produce some of the best health statistics in the world. The best component of the United Kingdom's health care system is that it takes the weight of paying medical bills off the shoulders of its citizens entirely by the government paying for health care (Palfreman, 2008). Citizens contribute to their health care only by paying the taxes that fund it, which seems like a much better idea than paying hundreds of dollars monthly just for insurance. An major aspect of the Japanese health care system that contributes to its success is the fact that everybody must purchase some sort of health insurance (Palfreman, 2008). The poor are given aid in order to pay for their premiums. The best part of this is that insurance companies are forbidden from turning down anyone, so everyone is covered despite any past illnesses. Germany also provides health insurance to all their citizens, and cannot turn down anyone (Palfreman, 2008). They, also, give public assistance to those who cannot pay for thei...
RR reported that it is common for Punjabis to prefer Indian doctors to any other ethnic background. He elaborated on this by stating that this is not because they feel Indian physicians are superior to any other race, but they feel that they are easier to communicate with. He stated that although most women request female doctors, men are not particular with who they see. Ultimately, he stated that the Punjabis here in the United States choose their physician on the basis of what language he or she speaks. These findings directly correlate with the results of a study done pertaining to the Punjabi people’s perception of health care providers in India. Even in the rural Punjab region, only 10% of the study indicated a preference of health-practitioner on the basis of qualifications (Mehra & Nanda, 2012). This finding serves as an indication of either the ignorance of the people involved in the study or the true lack of preference regarding qualified physicians. Another interesting find...
Private and public health care providers suffer from the attraction and retention of qualified health care professionals, such as the number of physicians per 10,000 population is 15 for the UAE while it is 35 for Germany and 25 for Qatar. This is causing slow growth in the development of UAE health care systems (Deloitte & Touche, 2011). The low numbers of physicians per population were because of the failure of the UAE health care system to retain doctors and nurses, as well as some of the doctors leaving their jobs while some nurses leave their positions annually. The attraction and retention of staff is hampered by a lack of continuing education because of a shortage of medical schools which are showing elevation of capabilities and professional development.... ...
A journey that patients take from one country to another country to get cost effective and efficient medical treatment, followed by a great vacation at some of the most beautiful locations is called medical tourism. In simple terms, the medical tourism refers to “visit by overseas patients for medical treatment and relaxation”. Thus, it is an amalgamation of two distinct services: healthcare and tourism. Although the medical tourism is a recent phenomenon, this sector grows exponentially and emerges as a major force for the growth of services exports worldwide. Currently, it is a multibillion dollar industry.Countries like Belgium, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dubai, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand etc are actively involved in medical tourism. India is one of the major democratic nations of the world. It has achieved considerable progress after initiation of reforms in 1991. It has emerged as the fourth largest economy in purchasing power. It is amongst the fastest growing
The hotel industry is one of the fastest growing industries in India. The total market size of Indian tourism and hospitality sector stood at US$ 117.7 billion and is expected to touch US$ 418.9 billion by 2022. The foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in hotel and tourism sector during April 2000 to July 2013
While medical tourism is often generalized to travel from high-income countries to low-cost developing economies, other factors can influence a decision to travel as well, including diferences between the funding of public healtcare or general access to healthcare.