NORTH AMERICA OUTBOUND MEDICAL TOURISM SERVICES MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Challenges And Opportunities

North America Outbound Medical Tourism Services Market – Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease spread to over 100 countries across the globe, and the World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency on January 30, 2020.

COVID-19 affected the economy in three main ways: by directly affecting the production and demand of drugs, by creating disruptions in distribution channels, and through its financial impact on firms and financial markets. Due to nationwide lockdowns, several countries such as China, India, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Egypt, and others are facing problems with the transportation of peoples from one place to another.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the North America Outbound Medical Tourism Services market. For instance, in October 2021, UZ LEUVEN UZ Leuven is a university hospital, where patients can count on specialised care and innovative treatments in North America, opened a COVID testing center in various places, especially for travellers. This has helped the company reach out to new consumers and expand the business, especially during Ontario Hockey League, organized by the GP association Khobra.

North America Outbound Medical Tourism Services Market: Restraint

Lack of effective follow-up care on returning home

Lack of effective follow-up care on returning home is expected to hinder growth of the market. Patients face difficulty in getting follow-up treatment in their home country after receiving medical care in medical tourism destinations. One of the major issues patients deal with is management of post-operative complications that occur after returning to their home country. For instance, according to an article published in National Library of Medicine, in March 2022, reported considerations related to medical tourism upon returning home, patients may experience a lack of easy access to follow up care. Patients may encounter a high level of difficulty in finding a doctor who would be willing to treat a patient whose complications stem from a surgery performed abroad. It seems that the main reason for doctors to not willingly get involved in treatment of complications is the fact that they do not know what was done and what else can potentially go wrong. Such corrective procedures may also become a great unforeseen financial burden.

Hospitals are taking initiative to continuous follow up care on returning home.