Acceso usuarios
Rami J. Anshasi
, Adi Alsyouf, Fahad Nasser Alhazmi
Purpose: This study focuses on the concept of medical tourism, its significance, and its implications for the Jordanian health sector. Patients travel to Jordan to seek elective, less expensive medical procedures while having a vacation. Other factors that promote medical tourism include better quality of care, shorter queues, exotic locations, and culture. The Medical Liability Law passed not long ago, further encouraged more patients to seek treatment in Jordan. Medical tourism's contribution to Jordanian GDP is noteworthy; providing economic growth and employment opportunities. Though medical tourism received great recognition, little is said about specific concerns like the brain drain of health workers and incurring high costs on Jordanian citizens. This issue needs further attention.
Design/methodology/approach: This research employed qualitative analysis by conducting semi-structured, in-person interviews with ten Jordanian professionals who have an interest in the field of medical tourism. The interviewees included a health marketer, private hospital directors, a health policymaker, a health accreditation expert, a quality assurance manager, and health care professionals. The key participants responded to the same open-ended interview questions. The selected participants represent a diversity of facilitators involved in the medical tourism industry. Interviews were transcribed and correlated with the literature.
Findings: The competitive edge of Jordan in medical tourism arises from cost-effective health services, its renowned reputation in healthcare, and the diversity of touristic attractions. Most foreign patients that come to Jordan are from Arab countries. Jordan offers no language barrier and similar culture. The importance of medical tourism to Jordan is reflected in its contribution to the GDP by 3.5 percent or $1 billion. Little attention is drawn to some issues such as brain drain, high-incurring costs, promotional campaigns, medical inequality, and other pitfalls.
Practical implications: Health policymakers and health services providers around the globe with similar health systems have expressed interest in facilitating the growth of the medical tourism industry. They should encourage what reduces operational and medical risks that may accompany the medical tourism industry. This paper could provide a better understanding of medical tourism in Jordan as a hot spot in the world for medical tourism.
Social implications: Medical tourism can drive a robust social multiplier effect on a nation in terms of enhancing employment generation as well as fostering a culture of innovation and advancement in the field of healthcare and medicine.
Originality/value: The interviews and other secondary data sources help shed some insight into the current status and ramifications of medical tourism in Jordan.
