Medical tourism is a relatively recent global economic and political phenomenon which has assumed increasing importance for developing countries, particularly in Asia. It has been slower to develop within the context of the tourism industry in English-speaking Caribbean countries but there is evidence that the tourism policy makers in the region perceive medical tourism as a potentially lucrative niche market. However, while the potential of medical tourism has seemingly been embraced by the region's political directorate, there has been limited discussion of the extent to which this market niche can realistically provide competitive advantage for the region. The argument of this conceptual paper is that the English-speaking Caribbean cannot hope to compete successfully in the global medical tourism market with many developing world destinations in Asia, or even with other Caribbean countries such as Cuba, on factors such as low cost, staff expertise, medical technological capability, investment in healthcare facilities or even in terms of the natural resources of sun, sea and sand. Rather, in order to achieve competitive advantage the countries of the region should, on the one hand, identify and develop their unique resources and competences as they relate to medical tourism, while, on the other hand, they should exploit the demand of the postmodern tourist for authentic experiences. Both these supply and demand side issues, it is argued, can be addressed through the development of a medical tourism product that utilises the region's indigenous herbal remedies.

The thesis analyses factors influencing medical tourism within the Czech Re- public where districts ("okresy") and regions ("kraje") are considered as the units where the patient can travel to receive health care. The dataset was pro- vided by the Czech general health insurance (VZP). The research covers the period 2011-2014 and reveals the differences between "medical tourism" for hospitalizations and for medical treatments and between travelling into other districts ("okresy") and travelling into other regions ("kraje") for medical ser- vice in the analyzed regions of the Czech Republic. The results statistically approved how particular diagnoses, their seriousness, age, gender, availability of health care and other factors influence travelling for health care in the Czech Republic. JEL Classification A12, C22, C55, I11, I12, I19 Keywords medical tourism, the Czech Republic, health care Author's e-mail eva7.nemeckova@seznam.cz Supervisor's e-mail jana.votapkova@fsv.cuni.cz

The diploma thesis is focused on the communication strategy of the company Asklepion, s.r.o. The aim of the study is to analyze the ways of communication mix in targeting the final customer, evaluation of its marketing communication in relation to competition and from the viewpoint of effectiveness based on own research enquiries, to identify problem areas in this communication a to try to suggest measures to improve communication in these areas. Theoretical part sets the basic theoretical framework for the following practical one. It presents the specifics of marketing communication and the use of the tools of communication mix in the medical service. The fundamentals of successful marketing communication are discussed and the possibilities of its evaluation outlined. The practical part analyses the marketing communication of Asklepion, s.r.o. It is focused on the use of parts of marketing mix, evaluation of its efectiveness based on comparison with competitors and autor's own enquiries. The author tries to identify problem areas and suggest measures in order to improve communication in these areas. The main contribution of the thesis is a complex view on marketing communication of Asklepion in broader context, definition of problematic areas and suggesting a way in marketing communication that the company should follow.

Thesis advisor: James F. Keenan / Reviewing the current health care system in India which is grossly inadequate and inefficient, inaccessible and inequitable, this dissertation discusses the relevance of the principles of social justice such as equity, the common good and distributive justice, and the imperatives of social justice such as the option for the poor, subsidiarity, participation and solidarity and argues that a health care system informed and guided by these principles will be more effective, equitable and accessible to people. In addition to examining the numerous challenges faced by the primary health care system in the country, I also examine the many ethical challenges raised by the development of gene therapies in the country and suggest that the same principles of social justice offer guidelines to frame policies regarding the practice of them. This dissertation faces of the very complex health care situation in India. About 40% of people in the country have little or no access to basic health care because of poverty, abysmally low spending on health care by the government, neglect of basic health care facilities, and lack of social security measures like health insurance. However, the government in its effort to boost the country's GDP is making an all-out effort to promote health tourism in the country by investing in super specialty hospitals and in high-end medicines like gene therapy. The government also has been promoting and encouraging private investments in the sector, especially in setting up super-specialty hospitals and in the use of high-end medicines such as gene therapy. In an effort to boost health tourism and to earn greater foreign exchange, the government has drafted its industrial policies for the last three decades, encouraging private, for-profit health care sector. Substantial tax deductions and subsidies are provided to the private sector to allure private investment in the sector. However, in the process, the government has neglected primary health care centers that have been the primary source of health care for the poor and the underprivileged sections of people. In spite of announcing new policies in health care with high promises of programs and initiatives for the poor, women and children, the resource allocation to the sector betrays all promises. The administrative, structural, political and social anomalies, especially corruption at all levels, absenteeism among health care personnel, medical malpractices, a lack of political will, vision and transparency, poor allocation of funds, lack of monitoring and evaluation systems, etc., have crippled the health care system. It is in this context that I argue that the principles of social justice and its imperatives should inform and direct the government in its effort to provide health care in the country. These principles and imperatives should inform and direct not only provisions for basic health care but also the production and use of genetic medicines. A health care system that is based on equity, the common good, distributive justice, subsidiarity, solidarity and participation, that promotes health and meets the health care needs of all in an equitable way, irrespective of the socio-economic disparities that prevails, is the need of the hour in India. / Thesis (STD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

The “miracle” success of transplant technology, alongside the commercialization of health care, and the increasing polarization between rich and poor have created the conditions for an illegal but thriving trade in human body parts. Based on 15 months of challenging fieldwork, my research examines the ethics of the organ bazaar, particularly the experiences of 33 kidney sellers living in Bangladesh. On the underground bazaar, not only human kidneys but also livers and corneas are advertised for sale. Recipients, sellers, and brokers regularly post newspaper advertisements to buy and sell organs. The average price for a kidney is US $1,500 in Bangladesh, a country where 78% of people live on less than $2 a day. My research examines serious ethical questions, such as these: Is it right to purchase an organ, even if the organ sought provides longevity? Is the sale of one’s organ a justifiable means of fighting poverty? These questions allow me to examine the ethics of harvesting organs, particularly from the bodies of impoverished people. Narrating the victims’ deeply moving testimonies, my ethnography reveals how organ buyers (both recipients and brokers) tricked and pressured Bangladeshi poor into selling their kidneys. In the end, these sellers were brutally deprived and deceived, and their suffering was extreme. In the post-vending period, sellers’ health, economic, and social conditions significantly deteriorated, yet none of them received the promised post-operative care—not even one appointment. My research therefore concludes that organ commodification is serious structural violence against the poor, at the terrible cost of harm and suffering to them. Examining the organ market proposition, I argue that the resulting violence and injustice against the poor provide a hefty reason to rebut this trade. Bangladeshi kidney sellers also stood up against organ commodification, speaking out about their suffering, and about various detrimental and unethical outcomes incurred in this deal. My research aims to offer insights to bioethics and to broaden the debate on human rights by exposing how technological advancement, structural violence, and grinding poverty intersect in the violation of justice to the poor, turning them into “living cadavers.”

The “miracle” success of transplant technology, alongside the commercialization of health care, and the increasing polarization between rich and poor have created the conditions for an illegal but thriving trade in human body parts. Based on 15 months of challenging fieldwork, my research examines the ethics of the organ bazaar, particularly the experiences of 33 kidney sellers living in Bangladesh. On the underground bazaar, not only human kidneys but also livers and corneas are advertised for sale. Recipients, sellers, and brokers regularly post newspaper advertisements to buy and sell organs. The average price for a kidney is US $1,500 in Bangladesh, a country where 78% of people live on less than $2 a day. My research examines serious ethical questions, such as these: Is it right to purchase an organ, even if the organ sought provides longevity? Is the sale of one’s organ a justifiable means of fighting poverty? These questions allow me to examine the ethics of harvesting organs, particularly from the bodies of impoverished people. Narrating the victims’ deeply moving testimonies, my ethnography reveals how organ buyers (both recipients and brokers) tricked and pressured Bangladeshi poor into selling their kidneys. In the end, these sellers were brutally deprived and deceived, and their suffering was extreme. In the post-vending period, sellers’ health, economic, and social conditions significantly deteriorated, yet none of them received the promised post-operative care—not even one appointment. My research therefore concludes that organ commodification is serious structural violence against the poor, at the terrible cost of harm and suffering to them. Examining the organ market proposition, I argue that the resulting violence and injustice against the poor provide a hefty reason to rebut this trade. Bangladeshi kidney sellers also stood up against organ commodification, speaking out about their suffering, and about various detrimental and unethical outcomes incurred in this deal. My research aims to offer insights to bioethics and to broaden the debate on human rights by exposing how technological advancement, structural violence, and grinding poverty intersect in the violation of justice to the poor, turning them into “living cadavers.”

Imposing the principles of sustainable development on medical tourism is vital to maintaining the three pillars of a strong nation, namely, the environment, the economy, and the local community. The three research objectives of this thesis are: 1) to determine the primary factors that motivate foreign patients to travel abroad for medical services; 2) to define the role that stakeholders play for developing the medical tourism sector; and 3) to develop an implementable framework for establishing a sustainable medical facility. These objectives help lay the foundations for a medical tourism facility that would respond well to the future demands of international patients, and would remain competitive with other medical facilities in the global market while also improving local quality-of-life and remaining within ecological constraints. Therefore, this research adopts a case study methodology to examine a framework developed through the literature review to determine how it fits in reality. In addition, this research provides a starting point to define further the primary roles of the medical tourism network for developing the medical tourism sector.

Background: Medical tourism is arising in Asian countries and in Hong Kong, the maternal tourism is evolving due to the influx of non-entitled pregnant women from mainland China for deliveries. The visitors were attracted not only by the technical advancement of Hong Kong healthcare system, but its special administrative background which grants the babies with a permanent resident identity as well as the citizenship benefits regardless to their parental status. Besides, the parents could avoid penalties from the "One Child Policy" in China. With the limited healthcare resources, non-local mothers started to compete with the local mothers for obstetric services. The community raised their concerns in developing of maternity tourism and verbalised their demands in protecting local rights and equity to resources. Aims and Objectives: There are limited published researches available on maternal tourism or the specific situation faced by Hong Kong. By analysing grey literature, this paper would like to suggest the impact exerted on the healthcare system by the influx of non-eligible mothers with a medical tourism framework. Results: The impact of non-local-mother deliveries on healthcare system were discussed in the areas of governance, delivery, financing, human resources and regulation. Future research could be done on assessing the priorities in the framework components and the direction, effectiveness of the management strategies for non-entitled deliveries. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Darbo objektas – medicinos turizmo patrauklumas. Tyrimo problema: neaišku, koks yra Lietuvos medicinos turizmo patrauklumas paslaugų vartotojams? Darbo tikslas – nustatyti medicinos turizmo patrauklumą paslaugų vartotojams Lietuvos turizmo verslo atstovų kontekste. Siekiant šio tikslo, iškelti tokie darbo uždaviniai: 1.išsiaiškinti medicinos turizmo vietą kitų turizmo rūšių atžvilgiu; 2.apžvelgti medicinos turizmo vystymąsi skatinančius veiksnius; 3.aptarti medicinos turizmo padėtį užsienio šalyse ir Lietuvoje; 4.nustatyti Lietuvos medicinos turizmo stipriąsias ir silpnąsias puses; 5.įvertinti Lietuvos medicinos turizmo paslaugų rinkos patrauklumą vartotojams turizmo verslo atstovų kontekste. Mokslininkų teigimu, medicinos turizmas yra vienas iš sveikatos saugojimo ir gerinimo būdų, kurio pagrindinis tikslas yra žmonių keliavimas šalies viduje ar į kitą šalį, siekiant padidinti subalansuotą fizinį, dvasinį ir socialinį sveikatos potencialą, gaunant sveikatinimo, sveikatingumo ir kitų turizmo paslaugų. Kitaip tariant, medicinos turizmas yra viena iš naujų turizmo rūšių, užimantis tam tikrą vietą sveikatos turizmo sistemoje. Medicinos turizmo vystymąsi labiausiai skatina tokie veiksniai: aplinkos veiksniai (klimato sąlygos, gamtos ištekliai, geografinė vieta), pažangos veiksniai, kurie apima subjektų, siūlančių bei teikiančių medicinos turizmo paslaugas daugiausiai privačiose ligoninėse ar įmonėse, investicijas. Taip pat internetinių išteklių naudojimas, plėtojant medicinos... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Subject of the study – medical tourism attractiveness. The problem of the survey: it is not clear what is the attractiveness of Lithuanian medical tourism for incoming medical tourists? The objective of the study – find out the level of medical tourism attractiveness for tourists in the context of Lithuanian tourism industry. The following tasks to achieve this objective: 1.find out the location of medical tourism in other tourism species; 2.review the factors that promote the development of medical tourism; 3.discuss the situation of medical tourism in foreign countries and in Lithuania; 4.find out strengths and weaknesses of Lithuanian medical tourism; 5.evaluate the attractiveness of Lithuanian medical tourism market for consumers in the context of Lithuanian tourism industry. According to scientists, medical tourism is one of the ways to improve health. The main objective of this tourism is traveling within the country or to another country in order to increase the balance of physical, mental social health potential, getting health, fitness and other services. In other words, medical tourism is one of new types of tourism, occupying a place in health tourism system. Medical tourism development is mainly driven by the following factors: environmental factors (climate, natural resources, geographical location), progress factors, which include investments that are offered by private hospitals or companies. Another factors are online resources, quality (specialists)... [to full text]

Imposing the principles of sustainable development on medical tourism is vital to maintaining the three pillars of a strong nation, namely, the environment, the economy, and the local community. The three research objectives of this thesis are: 1) to determine the primary factors that motivate foreign patients to travel abroad for medical services; 2) to define the role that stakeholders play for developing the medical tourism sector; and 3) to develop an implementable framework for establishing a sustainable medical facility. These objectives help lay the foundations for a medical tourism facility that would respond well to the future demands of international patients, and would remain competitive with other medical facilities in the global market while also improving local quality-of-life and remaining within ecological constraints. Therefore, this research adopts a case study methodology to examine a framework developed through the literature review to determine how it fits in reality. In addition, this research provides a starting point to define further the primary roles of the medical tourism network for developing the medical tourism sector.