medical tourism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Academic, Journalistic.
Quick answer
What does “medical tourism” mean?
The practice of travelling to another country to receive medical treatment, often because it is cheaper, faster, or of higher quality than in one's home country.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice of travelling to another country to receive medical treatment, often because it is cheaper, faster, or of higher quality than in one's home country.
It encompasses a global industry where patients cross international borders for healthcare, driven by factors like cost differentials, treatment availability, or combining treatment with travel for recuperation. The term also refers to the economic sector and logistical services facilitating this travel.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in both varieties. No significant lexical or spelling differences.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can have neutral industry connotations or negative connotations related to healthcare inequality, 'queue jumping', or ethical concerns about follow-up care.
Frequency
Broadly similar frequency. Possibly slightly more common in American media due to discussions around high domestic healthcare costs.
Grammar
How to Use “medical tourism” in a Sentence
Medical tourism TO [country/destination]Medical tourism FOR [procedure/treatment][Country] IS a hub FOR medical tourism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “medical tourism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Medical tourism is not typically used as a verb. Use phrases like 'travel abroad for treatment'.
- More and more people are choosing to go abroad for surgery.
American English
- Medical tourism is not typically used as a verb. Use phrases like 'seek treatment overseas'.
- Patients often fly to Mexico to get dental work done.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. Use prepositional phrases: 'He travelled medically to Prague.' is incorrect.
American English
- No standard adverbial form. Use prepositional phrases: 'She went internationally for healthcare.'
adjective
British English
- The medical-tourism sector is expanding rapidly.
- They booked a medical-tourism package.
American English
- The medical tourism industry is a major revenue source.
- She used a medical tourism facilitator.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referring to market growth, destination marketing, and economic impact: 'The hospital is investing heavily to capture a larger share of the medical tourism market.'
Academic
Analyzing trends, ethics, and economic drivers: 'The study quantifies the effects of medical tourism on local health systems in Thailand.'
Everyday
Discussing personal plans or news stories: 'They're considering medical tourism for the knee surgery because the waitlist here is too long.'
Technical
In healthcare policy or hospital management: 'Our facility is JCI accredited to meet the standards demanded by medical tourism.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “medical tourism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “medical tourism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “medical tourism”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He medical-touristed to India' – incorrect). Say 'He travelled to India for medical treatment/tourism.'
- Confusing it with general 'health tourism' which can include spa/wellness trips.
- Misspelling as 'medical tourizm'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While travel is involved, the primary purpose is medical treatment. Any leisure activity is usually secondary or for recuperation.
Risks include potential complications during travel post-surgery, difficulties with follow-up care back home, varying legal recourse, and inconsistent medical standards.
Common destinations include Thailand (cosmetic surgery), India (cardiac surgery), Turkey (hair transplants), Mexico (dental work), and South Korea (advanced procedures).
Often yes, as the total cost (procedure + travel + accommodation) can be significantly lower than the domestic price for uninsured or elective procedures in high-cost countries.
The practice of travelling to another country to receive medical treatment, often because it is cheaper, faster, or of higher quality than in one's home country.
Medical tourism is usually formal, business, academic, journalistic. in register.
Medical tourism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmed.ɪ.kəl ˈtʊə.rɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmed.ɪ.kəl ˈtʊr.ɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms. The term itself is a fixed phrase.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TOURIST carrying a MEDICAL chart instead of a camera.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTHCARE IS A COMMODITY / HEALTHCARE IS A DESTINATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which factor is LEAST likely to be a primary driver of medical tourism?