Medical Tourism News and Research

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Medical tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism or global healthcare) is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care.

Traveling for cosmetic surgery may carry hidden infection risks

A CDC review highlights serious infection risks linked to cosmetic surgery tourism, emphasizing the need for improved safety and infection control measures.

9 Jun 2026

UK patients seeking surgery overseas are returning with complications the NHS must treat

Outward medical tourism for surgery results in serious complications, creating challenges for the NHS and highlighting the need for better patient awareness.

16 Jan 2026

Postoperative complications of medical tourism place growing financial burden on the NHS

The postoperative complications of medical tourism may be costing the NHS up to £20,000 per patient, suggest the findings of a rapid review of the available data, published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

13 Jan 2026

Experts highlight urgent need to regulate bariatric and metabolic surgery medical tourism

Medical tourism for bariatric and weight reduction surgery needs urgent regulation to protect recipients' health, especially as the data show that tourist numbers are increasing despite the advent of weight loss drugs, say experts in a commentary published online in BMJ Global Health.

16 Jul 2025

Europe sets new standards for obesity surgery medical tourism

Obesity surgery (also known as bariatric and metabolic surgery) is one of the most common reasons for people to do so called 'medical tourism' – where they travel to another country to have the procedure carried out at usually a much lower price than in their home country.

19 Feb 2025

Traveling to die: The latest form of medical tourism

In the 18 months after Francine Milano was diagnosed with a recurrence of the ovarian cancer she thought she'd beaten 20 years ago, she traveled twice from her home in Pennsylvania to Vermont.

20 Aug 2024

Artificial tears linked to drug-resistant bacteria outbreak, CDC finds

CDC scientists trace a multistate outbreak of highly drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa to a specific brand of over-the-counter artificial tears, underscoring the need for stricter regulation of medical products.

8 Feb 2024

How might healthcare transform in the next 50 years?

A new study published in Futures highlighted key factors likely to influence the evolution of medicine over the next 50 years. These factors included wellness technologies, data-driven personalization, and climate change.

12 Jan 2023

Researchers examine problems that hinder the development of medical tourism in Russia

Scientists from Sechenov University interviewed Russian healthcare experts to find out what problems impeded the development of medical tourism in the country most and what measures would help attract foreigners.

18 Sep 2020

Review examines the role of biologic agents in management of shoulder and elbow problems

The utilization of stem cell therapies for augmentation of tissue healing has far outpaced the supporting scientific and clinical data, largely due to aggressive marketing that has led to widespread and often inappropriate use of cell therapy approaches in the United States.

1 Oct 2019

Harmful substances in herbal medicines may play big role in deaths of 'health tourists'

A University of Adelaide forensic pathologist is warning that potentially harmful substances found in herbal medicines may be playing a bigger role in deaths of 'health tourists' than previously thought.

25 Oct 2018

Plastic surgery done in developing countries can carry substantial risks of complications

Patients traveling to developing countries for plastic surgery procedures may experience severe complications—requiring extensive and costly treatment after they return to the United States, reports a study in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

30 Mar 2018

Study finds increase in deaths from preventable illness in Delhi, despite investments in health care

Recent government expenditures to improve access to effective health care in Delhi, India, have been insufficient to overcome the impact of poverty and inequalities, leading to a rise in deaths from preventable illness such as septicemia and tuberculosis in the capital city, according to a study led by Rutgers School of Public Health researcher Michael K. Gusmano.

28 Jan 2017

Experts underscore need to tackle rising global problem of stem cell medical tourism

Stem cell medical tourism and unproven stem cell interventions are growing and concerning issues for patients afflicted with lung disease.

11 Aug 2016

ISCT launches publication and reference guide on Use of Unproven Cellular Therapies

The International Society for Cellular Therapy, the global society of clinicians, researchers, regulators, technologists, and industry partners dedicated to the translation of cellular therapy into safe and effective therapies to improve patients’ lives, today announces the launch of its publication and reference guide on the Use of Unproven Cellular Therapies.

31 Oct 2015

New handbook explores issues associated with medical tourism

Patients who travel abroad for medical treatment risk returning with complications or infections that require costly treatment on the NHS and is one of the issues highlighted in a new handbook exploring medical tourism.

30 Jun 2015

University of Utah-led study suggests that readmission to same hospital important for recovery

Up to 22 percent of surgical patients experience unexpected complications and must be readmitted for post-operative care. A study led by the University of Utah suggests that returning to the same hospital is important for recovery. Readmission to a different hospital was associated with a 26 percent increased risk for dying within 90 days.

19 Jun 2015

Griffith student finds success in medical tourism

The world of medical tourism was not one that Dan Donner had ever considered as a potential career path, but today he can be found dividing his time between study at Griffith University and running a flourishing business in Thailand.

5 Jun 2015

New report on digital and computed radiography market in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia

With recent developments in Asia-Pacific healthcare delivery as well as the growing emphasis on reduced radiation, seamless workflow and safety measures, innovations in the digital and computed radiography market in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia (TIM) are inevitable.

27 Apr 2015

Malaysia wins “International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ), Medical Travel Destination of the Year Award 2015"

Malaysia has been proclaimed “Medical Travel Destination of the Year” at the International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) Medical Travel Awards 2015...

16 Apr 2015