MEDICAL TOURISM
AUTHOR – YUVASHREE, STUDENT AT THE TAMILNADU DR AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY
BEST CITATION – YUVASHREE, MEDICAL TOURISM, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (14) OF 2025, PG. 958-964, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
ABSTRACT
Medical tourism has become a major component of cross-border health services, characterized by patients travelling internationally to obtain medical care that is more affordable, faster, or perceived as higher in quality than what is available in their home jurisdictions. Cost differentials, lengthy waiting periods in certain public health systems, expanding private-sector healthcare capacity, and technological advances have collectively accelerated this market. India has emerged as a leading destination due to comparatively lower treatment costs, a large pool of specialized clinicians, the growth of accredited tertiary-care hospitals, and the co-existence of biomedical and traditional wellness systems. At the same time, the sector generates complex legal and ethical concerns, particularly in relation to patient safety, informed consent, professional accountability, dispute resolution, continuity of care, confidentiality, and distributive justice in access to health resources. This article analyses the concept and expansion of medical tourism, outlines its perceived benefits and structural risks, and argues for clearer governance mechanisms that safeguard patient rights while supporting sustainable sectoral growth.
Keywords: Medical Tourism, Cross-Border Healthcare, Medical Negligence, Informed Consent, Global Health Governance, etc.