Background:Although the global growth of privatized health care services in the form of medical tourism appears to generate economic benefits,there is debate about medical tourism’s impacts on health equity in countr...Background:Although the global growth of privatized health care services in the form of medical tourism appears to generate economic benefits,there is debate about medical tourism’s impacts on health equity in countries that receive medical tourists.Studies of the processes of economic globalization in relation to social determinants of health suggest that medical tourism’s impacts on health equity can be both direct and indirect.Barbados,a small Caribbean nation which has universal public health care,private sector health care and a strong tourism industry,is interested in developing an enhanced medical tourism sector.In order to appreciate Barbadians’understanding of how a medical tourism industry might impact health equity.Methods:We conducted 50 individual and small-group interviews in Barbados with stakeholders including government officials,business and health professionals.The interviews were coded and analyzed deductively using the schedule’s questions,and inductively for novel findings,and discussed by the authors.Results:The findings suggest that in spite of Barbados’universal health care and strong population health indicators,there is expressed concern for medical tourism’s impact on health equity.Informants pointed to the direct ways in which the domestic population might access more health care through medical tourism and how privately-provided medical tourism in Barbados could provide health benefits indirectly to the Barbadian populations.At the same time,they cautioned that these benefits may not materialize.For example,the transfer of public resources-health workers,money,infrastructure and equipment-to the private sector to support medical tourism with little to no return to government revenues could result in health inequity through reductions in access to and availability of health care for residents.Conclusions:In clarifying the direct and indirect pathways by which medical tourism can impact health equity,these findings have implications for health system stakeholders and decision-makers in Barbados and other countries attempting both to build a medical tourism industry and to protect health equity.展开更多
Ronald Labonté指出,回到“一切照旧”的经济会是致命错误。当新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)疫情大流行来袭时,全球经济仍在与2008年金融危机的冲击进行斗争,供应链崩溃,全球经济活动低迷。几乎立刻就有人谈到需要“大重构”或“重...Ronald Labonté指出,回到“一切照旧”的经济会是致命错误。当新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)疫情大流行来袭时,全球经济仍在与2008年金融危机的冲击进行斗争,供应链崩溃,全球经济活动低迷。几乎立刻就有人谈到需要“大重构”或“重建更好未来”,暗示经济恢复至疫情流行前的正常水平并不应只默认为“一切照旧”。疫情流行前的经济已经造成巨大的财富不平等,加速气候变化,导致为逃离贫困、干旱或冲突的大规模移民。展开更多
基金supported in part by Operating Grant funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research(application#257739[FRN 114797])。
文摘Background:Although the global growth of privatized health care services in the form of medical tourism appears to generate economic benefits,there is debate about medical tourism’s impacts on health equity in countries that receive medical tourists.Studies of the processes of economic globalization in relation to social determinants of health suggest that medical tourism’s impacts on health equity can be both direct and indirect.Barbados,a small Caribbean nation which has universal public health care,private sector health care and a strong tourism industry,is interested in developing an enhanced medical tourism sector.In order to appreciate Barbadians’understanding of how a medical tourism industry might impact health equity.Methods:We conducted 50 individual and small-group interviews in Barbados with stakeholders including government officials,business and health professionals.The interviews were coded and analyzed deductively using the schedule’s questions,and inductively for novel findings,and discussed by the authors.Results:The findings suggest that in spite of Barbados’universal health care and strong population health indicators,there is expressed concern for medical tourism’s impact on health equity.Informants pointed to the direct ways in which the domestic population might access more health care through medical tourism and how privately-provided medical tourism in Barbados could provide health benefits indirectly to the Barbadian populations.At the same time,they cautioned that these benefits may not materialize.For example,the transfer of public resources-health workers,money,infrastructure and equipment-to the private sector to support medical tourism with little to no return to government revenues could result in health inequity through reductions in access to and availability of health care for residents.Conclusions:In clarifying the direct and indirect pathways by which medical tourism can impact health equity,these findings have implications for health system stakeholders and decision-makers in Barbados and other countries attempting both to build a medical tourism industry and to protect health equity.
