Medical Tourism Blog

Just a reminder to inform you that we'll be publishing an interview in the next few days with Dr. Milica Bookman, co-author of Medical tourism in Developing Countries, along with Karla R. Bookman. The interesting thing about Dr. Bookman is that she comes at this from a totally different viewpoint.

Her background, as a Professor in Economics, provides great credence to her research and the book. Its focused on the effect of medical tourism on the economies and the healthcare infrastructure of countries like India and Thailand, where medical tourism is a booming industry.

Tell you the truth, at first I felt like I was back in third grade, and it was a bit intimidating and surreal, trying to have a conversation with a published author of 9 books and an Economics Professor to boot. Turns out she's very charming and down to earth and the interview itself was fascinating. Makes me want to write a thesis on medical tourism and demographics myself. But more on that in a couple of days.

In other medical tourism news, News.com.au has an article on medical tourism called 'Medical Tourism Warts-and-all'. Here's what it says,"Several hospitals in Asia have carved out such outstanding reputations that medical tourism has become a big money-spinner; the typical combined hospital and doctors' charges are 60 per cent to 85 per cent lower than those in, say, US hospitals"

Next up is coverage of the upcoming July 24-27 launch of the Singapore special edition of Josef Woodman's Patients Beyond Borders, in association with SingaporeMedicine.com. After that we'll be publishing the interview with Dr. Milica Bookman. Stay tuned.

Update : Just got a reply from Blue Cross Blue Shield, South Carolina. They refused a request for an interview, citing 'conflicts of interest'. As a blogger, I'm itching to rip them apart. But as part of a responsible and rapidly growing organisation, I have to let it go. On the brighter side, I just found that BCBSSC is not the only insurer wading into medical tourism. United Group Programs in Boca Raton, Florida is working on negoatiations to offer their U.S. customers treatment abroad. BUPA International, a European company, is already sending their clients abroad. Philadelphia-based Cigna Insurance has a tie-up with an Indian hospital group to provide cashless treatment to any of its members on a visit to India. And this is just the beginning.