Ormond, M., Wong, K.M. and Chan, C.K. (2014) 'Medical tourism in Malaysia: How can we better identify and manage its advantages and disadvantages?' Global Health Action, 7(25201).
Available HTTP: http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/25201 (free/open access)
Available HTTP: http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/25201 (free/open access)
Abstract
Following on the identification of medical tourism as a growth sector by the Malaysian government in 1998, over the last 15 years significant governmental and private-sector investment has been channelled into its development. This is unfolding within the broader context of social services being devolved to for-profit enterprises and ‘market-capable’ segments of society becoming sites of intensive entrepreneurial investment by both the private sector and the state. Yet the opacity and paucity of available medical tourism statistics severely limits the extent to which medical tourism’s impacts can reliably assessed, forcing us both to consider the real effects that resulting speculation has itself produced and to re-evaluate how the real and potential impacts of medical tourism are -- and should be -- conceptualised, calculated, distributed and compensated for. Contemporary debate over the current and potential benefits and adverse effects of medical tourism for destination societies is hamstrung by the scant empirical data currently publicly available. Steps are proposed for overcoming these challenges in order to allow for improved identification, planning and development of resources appropriate to the needs, demands and interests of not only medical tourists and big business but also local populaces.
Keywords
medical tourism industry; statistical data; destination countries; healthcare commodification; public–private health care investment; entrepreneurial state; Southeast Asia
This article is part of a special issue in Global Health Action on ASEAN integration and its healthcare implications. Full list of articles:
medical tourism industry; statistical data; destination countries; healthcare commodification; public–private health care investment; entrepreneurial state; Southeast Asia
This article is part of a special issue in Global Health Action on ASEAN integration and its healthcare implications. Full list of articles:
| Progress toward universal health coverage in ASEAN | |
| Hoang Van Minh, Nicola Suyin Pocock, Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk, Chhea Chhorvann, Ha Anh Duc, Piya Hanvoravongchai, Jeremy Lim, Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III, Nawi Ng, Natalie Phaholyothin, Alay Phonvisay, Kyaw Min Soe, Vanphanom Sychareun |
| Role of occupational health in managing non-communicable diseases in Brunei Darussalam | |
| Pg Khalifah Pg Ismail, David SQ Koh |
| Human resources for health: task shifting to promote basic health service delivery among internally displaced people in ethnic health program service areas in eastern Burma/Myanmar | |
| Sharon Low, Kyaw Thura Tun, Naw Pue Pue Mhote, Saw Nay Htoo, Cynthia Maung, Saw Win Kyaw, Saw Eh Kalu Shwe Oo, Nicola Suyin Pocock |
| Policy processes underpinning universal health insurance in Vietnam | |
| Bui T. T. Ha, Scott Frizen, Le M. Thi, Doan T. T. Duong, Duong M. Duc |
| Innovations in non-communicable diseases management in ASEAN: a case series | |
| Jeremy Lim, Melissa M.H. Chan, Fatimah Z. Alsagoff, Duc Ha |
| Disasters, resilience, and the ASEAN integration | |
| Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III |
| Medical tourism in Malaysia: how can we better identify and manage its advantages and disadvantages? | |
| Meghann Ormond, Wong Kee Mun, Chan Chee Khoon |
| The ASEAN economic community and medical qualification | |
| Jathurong Kittrakulrat, Witthawin Jongjatuporn, Ravipol Jurjai, Nicha Jarupanich, Krit Pongpirul |
| Has decentralisation affected child immunisation status in Indonesia? | |
| Asri Maharani, Gindo Tampubolon |
| Obesogenic television food advertising to children in Malaysia: sociocultural variations | |
| See H. Ng, Bridget Kelly, Chee H. Se, Karuthan Chinna, Mohd Jamil Sameeha, Shanthi Krishnasamy, Ismail MN, Tilakavati Karupaiah |
| Horizontal inequity in public health care service utilization for non-communicable diseases in urban Vietnam | |
| Vu Duy Kien, Hoang Van Minh, Kim Bao Giang, Lars Weinehall, Nawi Ng |
