Does Medical Tourism Driving Development of Public Health Care in Jordan?

Abstract

This study reports findings from a study examining effect of medical tourism improving the public health sector in Jordan.  the growing trend of "medical tourism" where patients travel to low-cost developing countries for health procedures. Because of its relatively new status in an increasingly globalized world, previous analysis of this trend tends to focus on either the cost savings for the patients or the revenue potential for the host economies, often coming to the conclusion that medical tourism is not only beneficial for those seeking treatment, but for the economic and social development of such “destination countries”. However, as previously stated development is usually measured in economic terms. Viewing the health sector merely in the monetary terms of transnational trade is insufficient, as healthcare itself is a complex component of any country’s economy. Consequently, this calls for a re-evaluation of the limitations of measuring the benefits and disadvantages of medical tourism for destination countries solely on economic progress merely in monetary terms. This paper examines these contradictions based on a case study comparison of the medical tourism industry in Jordan with its domestic health sector. While health tourism has been validated as a potential revenue source, it also competes with the domestic health sector and could resultantly undermine and jeopardize the quality and accessibility of healthcare to Jordanian citizens themselves.

Keywords: Medical Tourism, Jordan, Tourism