Market size, market share and market strategy: three myths of medical tourism

Neil Lunt, Daniel Gary Horsfall, Richard D Smith, Mark Exworthy, Johanna Hanefeld, Russell Mannion

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The aim of this article is to contribute towards greater theoretical and empirical understanding about medical tourism developments globally. This evidence leads us to examine some widely-held assumptions regarding the size and shape of global medical travel. Our paper examines three central issues:
• First, do published figures and projections ‘add-up’; are figures from multiple sources consistent, and what decisions and interests are involved for those compiling these statistics?
• Second, how should any emerging global industry be understood and explained?
• Finally, given this analysis and market understanding how, if at all, can national governments stimulate activity?
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)597-614
Number of pages18
JournalPolicy and Politics
Volume42
Issue number4
Early online date16 Oct 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Oct 2014

Keywords

  • Health policy
  • Globalisation
  • Commodification
  • Markets
  • Economic sociology

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