Issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective

Medical tourism is a new and exciting industry due to its rapid growth and huge economic potential, estimated to be worth USD 4 billion for the Asian chapter (Deloitte, 2008). Malaysia is joining the bandwagon with Thailand, Singapore and India being the main medical tourist destination countries...

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Main Authors: Abd. Manaf, Noor Hazilah, Hussin, Husnayati, Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie, Alavi, Rokiah, Dahari, Zainurin
Format: Proceeding Paper
Language:English
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/42736/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/42736/1/issues_and_chellenges_in_medical_-_noor_hazilah.pdf
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author Abd. Manaf, Noor Hazilah
Hussin, Husnayati
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
Alavi, Rokiah
Dahari, Zainurin
author_facet Abd. Manaf, Noor Hazilah
Hussin, Husnayati
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
Alavi, Rokiah
Dahari, Zainurin
author_sort Abd. Manaf, Noor Hazilah
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
description Medical tourism is a new and exciting industry due to its rapid growth and huge economic potential, estimated to be worth USD 4 billion for the Asian chapter (Deloitte, 2008). Malaysia is joining the bandwagon with Thailand, Singapore and India being the main medical tourist destination countries in Asia. Factors such as excessive medical costs in rich countries, long waiting lists, relative affordability of international air travel, favourable economic exchange rates, and the ageing of the affluent baby-boomer generation has contributed to the growth of the industry. Convergence in global healthcare standard also meant that hospitals in other parts of the world can be as good, if not better, than those in the developed west. While the industry holds much promise, issues and challenges faced need to be addressed. The paper explores challenges from human resource, trade, information technology and legal perspectives. The large presence of medical tourists also do place pressure and demand on existing healthcare system. Thus, there is a need to balance the welfare and well-being of Malaysians at large against the extra income generated by medical tourism.
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format Proceeding Paper
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institution International Islamic University Malaysia
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language English
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publishDate 2013
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spelling iium-427362016-01-07T03:33:35Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/42736/ Issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective Abd. Manaf, Noor Hazilah Hussin, Husnayati Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie Alavi, Rokiah Dahari, Zainurin T Technology (General) Medical tourism is a new and exciting industry due to its rapid growth and huge economic potential, estimated to be worth USD 4 billion for the Asian chapter (Deloitte, 2008). Malaysia is joining the bandwagon with Thailand, Singapore and India being the main medical tourist destination countries in Asia. Factors such as excessive medical costs in rich countries, long waiting lists, relative affordability of international air travel, favourable economic exchange rates, and the ageing of the affluent baby-boomer generation has contributed to the growth of the industry. Convergence in global healthcare standard also meant that hospitals in other parts of the world can be as good, if not better, than those in the developed west. While the industry holds much promise, issues and challenges faced need to be addressed. The paper explores challenges from human resource, trade, information technology and legal perspectives. The large presence of medical tourists also do place pressure and demand on existing healthcare system. Thus, there is a need to balance the welfare and well-being of Malaysians at large against the extra income generated by medical tourism. 2013 Proceeding Paper PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/42736/1/issues_and_chellenges_in_medical_-_noor_hazilah.pdf Abd. Manaf, Noor Hazilah and Hussin, Husnayati and Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie and Alavi, Rokiah and Dahari, Zainurin (2013) Issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective. In: 2nd Applied International Business Conference 2013 (AIBC 2013), 7th-8th Dec. 2013, Labuan School of International Business and Finance, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. http://submit.confbay.com/conf/aibc2013
spellingShingle T Technology (General)
Abd. Manaf, Noor Hazilah
Hussin, Husnayati
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
Alavi, Rokiah
Dahari, Zainurin
Issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective
title Issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective
title_full Issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective
title_fullStr Issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective
title_full_unstemmed Issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective
title_short Issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective
title_sort issues and challenges in medical tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective
topic T Technology (General)
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/42736/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/42736/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/42736/1/issues_and_chellenges_in_medical_-_noor_hazilah.pdf