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?
• 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 language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 597-614 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Policy and Politics |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 16 Oct 2013 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Oct 2014 |
Keywords
- Health policy
- Globalisation
- Commodification
- Markets
- Economic sociology