Mapping the market for medical travel

May 21, 2008 |

Medical travel has captured the world?s attention and imagination, but a new McKinsey study suggests that the market isn?t as large as reported and that most medical travelers seek high quality and faster service instead of lower costs.

The idea of traveling around the world for medical treatment has captured much attention and imagination. As the debate on health care reform heats up in the United States, few weeks go by without a story about an under- or uninsured patient going to India or Thailand for heart surgery or hip replacement. Although medical travelers have many motives, lower-cost procedures and discretionary cosmetic operations represent only small segments. Most of these people seek the world?s most advanced technology, better quality, or quicker access to medical care.

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