Medical tourism in India – in whose interest?

Abstract

Purpose The present paper aims to analyse who actually benefits from the policies to promote international trade in healthcare services through medical tourism in India. It also assesses the implications of unfettered and unchecked medical tourism for public health policy-making. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology adopted in this paper is inter-disciplinary (socioeconomic and legal) and includes a mix of doctrinal and empirical qualitative research. Findings The present paper argues that in the absence of any baseline data in the public domain on inbound traffic of tourists visiting India on medical tourism, it is difficult to assess and evaluate the private sector claims and that the absence of any format for data collection, management and analysis results in questionable accountability and institutional fragmentation and non-coordination. Furthermore, it results in asymmetrical policy-making in areas like international trade, which may have unintended negative effects for public health. Research limitations/implications The research findings of the present paper will also assist other developing countries considering to promote medical tourism to learn lessons from India’s experiences. Originality/value The present paper uses the qualitative empirical research conducted by the author to analyse the state of affair of medical tourism in India.