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Articles on Medical tourism

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Achieving equity in global health requires addressing the root sources of inequity. Sabrina Bracher/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Health rights for trans people vary widely around the globe – achieving trans bliss and joy will require equity, social respect and legal protections

While gender-affirming health care is essential to the well-being of trans people, access to quality services varies significantly by geographic region and social context.
A limited supply of donor organs, paired with a massive demand for transplants, has fuelled the global organ trafficking industry, which exploits poor, underprivileged and persecuted members of society as a source of organs to be purchased by wealthy transplant tourists. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Killing prisoners for transplants: Forced organ harvesting in China

China’s industrial-scale organ trafficking practice has been executing prisoners of conscience and using their organs for transplantation for decades. This is known as forced organ harvesting.
This photo was taken at a resort just outside Chennai, India that caters to medical tourists following discharge from hospital. (V.A. Crooks)

Consider this advice before travelling abroad for health care

Informal caregivers play a vital role in medical tourism yet find themselves unprotected as “shadow workers” in a multi-billion dollar industry.
Research calls for global regulation of dental tourism - to prevent poor working conditions for local populations serving a wealth North American elite. (Shutterstock)

Dental tourism industry exploits workers in Mexico

Thousands of North Americans travel to Mexico to eat, drink, shop and get cheap and fast dental care. Meanwhile, local populations suffer racism, poor working conditions and inadequate health care.
In Australia, the manufacturing of cells for therapy is regulated but only for donated cells. koya979/Shutterstock

Cashing in on hope: stem cell tourism risks arrive in our own backyard

Once thought to be a problem only in poorly regulated jurisdictions overseas, unproven stem cell treatments are increasingly being offered in Australia. Now, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA…
Tourism isn’t just for sunshine and beaches. It can also be for unapproved medical interventions. IV via ARZTSAMUI/Shutterstock

Medical treatment not approved yet? No problem! Welcome to circumvention tourism

Medical tourism is the practice of seeking medical care across international borders. Countries with established medical sectors like the US, Europe, India and Thailand have been traditional destinations…
Hope, faith and miracle are the operative words when it comes to stem cell tourism. pol sifter/Flickr

Stem cell tourism exploits people by marketing hope

Stem cell tourism is when people travel to another country to receive treatments unavailable to them at home. It exists chiefly because most stem cell “treatments” are unproven and not readily available…
Not bad, but have you seen the Whitechapel job centre? Chiugoran

Hard Evidence: does ‘benefits tourism’ exist?

For all of the changes to the UK over the last century, the ideal of “fair play” still seems to be a pretty fundamental part of Britain’s national self-image. The concept that anyone – especially anyone…
Is it him? Or her? We don’t really know. Garry Knight

Bad data underpins flawed health tourism report

A new report into so-called “health tourism” makes for a shocking read. Not because the costs of migrants deemed to have travelled to Britain primarily to enjoy free NHS services on British taxpayers has…
Glasses, check. Passport, check. Cheque for £200? Flickr/Justin Vidamo

NHS levy for health tourists - a good deal for migrants

Another argument has broken out between the government and doctors over a proposal to charge immigrants to use the NHS. The government claims a levy will make the NHS more fair and sustainable and stop…
Having heard about the promise of stem cell technology, many people aren’t prepared to wait for their safe development. Wikimedia Commons

Buyer beware: the hidden cost of stem cell tourism

This week, ABC Radio National’s Background Briefing highlights the challenges involved in delivering on the promise of stem cell science and regenerative medicine. Although scientists continue to make…

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