Student

Mikheeva Karina Igorevna

Institute of Economics and Management of State Higher Educational Establishment ‘Crimean University for the Humanities’ (Yalta), Crimea

Scientific adviser: Philosophy Doctor in Economic Science

Lukyanova Yelena Yurievna

Institute of Economics and Management of State Higher Educational Establishment ‘Crimean University for the Humanities’ (Yalta), Crimea

Medical tourism development prospects

The global medical tourism sector growth rate shows the high level now. More than 50 countries claim medical tourism fast development. All global marketing tools utilized in this sector. It is large number of scientific conferences on medical tourism subject in nowadays world. It is also created a new concept of modern health care. If it is not being able to solve a medical problem in native country, person chooses doctor and clinic in country, where they able to offer the most advanced service.

According to the recent reports, announced at the Global Wellness Tourism Congress, medical tourism market shows strong growth. It has increased from 40 billion in 2004 revenue to 0,5 trillion US dollars in 2014, and 14 % of total tourism revenue (3,2 trillion). It is medical tourism amounted 1,8 percents of world GDP. And it also will increase for 9.9% percent per annum over the next five years, which is almost two times higher than in whole tourism industry, and it will reach $ 678,5 billion by 2017, or 16 percents of world GDP.

The main global medical tourism centers are in Asia-Pacific. According to the Global Spa & Wellness Summit in 2017 50% of medical tourism market will connected with Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. In recent years significantly increased the touristic flow of who is pursuing medical purposes, from Russia to the border countries in North-East and South-East Asia. It is very important to analysis tourism sector on the modern stage of economy.

Medical tourism is focused different objectives: prevention, rehabilitation, treatment (including surgery). Each segment is served by their specialized medical centers. Medical tourism prices can vary a lot depending on rendered services. It is dominated spa tourism in health sector for 41% of market. Medical tourism average cost is more that industry average cost 1,3 times.

Medical tourism is understood as leaving of country of residence to obtain medical services. People can move wits this purpose within the country. But this part of the segment is less interesting for tourism management.

There are four basic motivations of medical tourism:

1) lower costs;

2) modern medical technology;

3) high quality medical care;

4) time factor (when the long waiting for medical treatment is impossible for them in their own country).

Europe and North America are the main suppliers of customers for health tourism industry. The share US, Germany, Japan, France and Austria have 63% of the medical tourism world market.

Top ten countries are India, Hungary, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Barbados, Brazil, Israel, South Korea, and Turkey. For example India provides medical services for foreign tourists in $ 2,3 billion amount a year. The cost of medical services in these countries is much lower than in the United States and western European countries.

Development of medical tourism is very important fore very country. It plays the primary role for creating a powerful potential of Health. Furthermore, it should be formed special legislation to support medical tourism. Some countries subsidize foreign tourists’ treatment (e/g. Turkey). Other countries take foreigners’ health care insurance risks (e.g, South Korea).

Crimea also has its potential for medical tourism development: the mild Mediterranean climate, fresh sea air, a lot of sun, mountains, wonderful nature. For example, in Yalta has 276 sunny days a year. In the summer months even been some excess solar radiation. This is necessary to remember those who sunbathing contraindicated for one reason or another. The rest can only envy, because what could be better holiday in the under the bright sun, which itself heals and gives joyful moment.

There can be suggested such services as curing for:

̶ pulmonary tuberculosis and other nom-specific bronchial and pulmonary diseases;

̶ vegetative-vascular disease;

̶ cerebra vascular diseases;

̶ diseases of central nervous system;

̶ diseases of peripheral nervous system;

̶ diseases of musculoskeletal system;

̶ cardiovascular disease;

̶ gynecological pathology;

̶ diseases of gastrointestinal tract and duodenum.

This theses information can be useful for regional authorities on improving economical and management innovations, business leaders and economic universities students.

Literature

1. Health Matters. The next wave of medical tourists might include you [Electronic Source] – Access Mode: http://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB120283288 380762505?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB120283 288380762505.html.

2. Medical Tourism – Health Care in the Global Economy [Electronic Source] – Access Mode: http://web.nchu.edu.tw/pweb/users/hychuo/lesson/5877.pdf

3. Medical tourism could jump tenfold in next decade [Electronic Source] – Access Mode: http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Americans-look-abroad-to-save-on-health-care-3274578.php