Could this be the hot new vacation trend, pushing past cruises and guided tours? A study sponsored by Visa and Oxford Economics says it's already a $439 billion-a-year market, and could hit $3 trillion by 2025.
The analysis was based on the Medical Tourism Index, an industry-sponsored data table listing who goes where for what kinds of treatment. Top destinations for travelers seeking medical treatment abroad include Canada, UK, Israel, Singapore, India, Germany, France, South Korea, Italy and Colombia.
The U.S. is the biggest source of patients, with China coming up behind, and headed for first place within about 10 years, according to the study. Data indicates about 11 million people travel for medical care or receive it while traveling each year, including 1.25 million Americans.
The growth reflects medical needs of aging populations, surpluses of available care in some countries and shortages or quality issues in others. However, warnings from agencies including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration remind patients to be careful of where they go for help.
Photo: Health City, Cayman Islands, built as a combined hospital and resort for medical tourists.
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