Abstract
Abstract Background Health tourism (HT) (e.g. wellness tourism, thermalism & spa, medical tourism based in the delocalization of disease curative segments) is pervasive today in different formats. Hubs of high tech and nature spots are the basis for this increment of services. HT although present in the course of human history, has conquered a new social dimension today. Mobility and easy access to travel, are ingredients that fueled this segment, while a culture of health promotion (of all human dimensions - physical, psyche, spiritual and social) diversified the marked offers and services. The focus on health (salus, in latin) is the basis for the HT industry, contributing to a new ethos: the homo salus. Implications of HT need to be dissected and basic concepts integrated, as a glossary of terms and references and a charter of HT, from the public health perspective, are introduced to participants. Methods Document and stakeholder analysis help explore the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of HT towards a knowledgeable civic society. Results In the EU28, HT contributes 0.3% to the economy (2017). HT has hindrances but represent also a set of benefits since it may contribute to health (per see) and moreover decrease pharmaceutical consumption and reduce health costs through disease prevention. For this to take place a set of (competences) health literacy needs to empower the health tourist so that the benefits of HT become sustainable. Therefore, the concept of health needs to be clarified since the commonly used idea of WHO (1948) of what health is, do not fit into the overall social representation of HT. Conclusions The advent of the Homo Salus as a Prosumer, is aiming at the creation of health (salus+genesis) i.e. the quest is to become in a better condition moving towards the health end of the dis-ease continuum. Salutogenesis as a framework can contribute to better understand the public health dimension of HT going beyond the traditional curative dimension.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
