tailieunhanh - báo cáo khoa học: " The potential for bi-lateral agreements in medical tourism: A qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives from the UK and India"

Tuyển tập báo cáo các nghiên cứu khoa học quốc tế ngành y học dành cho các bạn tham khảo đề tài: The potential for bi-lateral agreements in medical tourism: A qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives from the UK and India | Martinez Alvarez et al. Globalization and Health 2011 7 11 http content 7 1 11 H2 globalization 7 AND HEALTH RESEARCH Open Access The potential for bi-lateral agreements in medical tourism A qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives from the UK and India Melisa Martinez Alvarez1 Rupa Chanda2 and Richard D Smith1 Abstract Background Globalisation has prompted countries to evaluate their position on trade in health services. However this is often done from a multi-lateral rather than a regional or bi-lateral perspective. In a previous review we concluded that most of the issues raised could be better addressed from a bi-lateral relationship. We report here the results of a qualitative exercise to assess stakeholders perceptions on the prospects for such a bi-lateral system and its ability to address concerns associated with medical tourism. Methods 30 semi-structured interviews were carried out with stakeholders 20 in India and 10 in the UK to assess their views on the potential offered by a bi-lateral relationship on medical tourism between both countries. Issues discussed include data availability origin of medical tourists quality and continuity of care regulation and litigation barriers to medical tourism policy changes needed and prospects for such a bi-lateral relationship. Results The majority of stakeholders were concerned about the quality of health services patients would receive abroad regulation and litigation procedures lack of continuity of care and the effect of such trade on the healthcare available to the local population in India. However when considering trade from a bi-lateral point of view there was disagreement on how these issues would apply. There was further disagreement on the importance of the Diaspora and the validity of the UK s rule that patients should not fly more than three hours to obtain care. Although the opinion on the prospects for an India-UK bi-lateral relationship was varied there was no .