Medical Tourism in History

One might think that Medical Tourism is a new concept which has developed only recently, thanks to the modern technology. However, medical tourism has existed for centuries, dating back to the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. Over time, the practice has evolved into its known form today.

Ancient Times

Medical tourism actually existed centuries ago in different societies. The ancient Greeks and Egyptians used to travel across borders to take advantage of the healing powers found in natural recourses. As health facilities were being built around hot mineral-rich springs, medical travelers reached these spots in search of different medical treatments.

Furthermore, the Greeks also used to travel towards the ancient city of Epidauria, as they believed that Asclepius, the god of medicine, had healing powers and resided there. Greeks from all over the Mediterranean used to travel to the city to heal from their illnesses.

Medical tourism also existed in ancient Asia, as Japan used hot mineral springs for healing purposes too, bringing many medical travelers from the area to this destination seeking for medicine.

In addition, yoga was developed about 4000 years ago in India, which started to attract medical travelers from other countries. They came to learn the trait and heal themselves through alternative medicine.

European Spas in recent Centuries

The healing hot mineral springs continued to draw medical seekers thousands of years later as medical spas and Roman bath facilities began to attract medical tourists again from the 16th century and on. The word "spa," which comes from the Roman phrase "health through waters" ("salude per aqua"), began to be used once again around this time and described any health facility which did not practice traditional medicine.

Europeans and Americans journeyed to these spas and remote retreats hoping to cure ailments like tuberculosis, as tourist towns started to grow around these spas and hot spring facilities.

Traveling for Medical Surgeries Today

We have seen that patients have been traveling for medical treatments for centuries. However, the practice of traveling in order to undergo medical surgery is a fairly new phenomenon, as this trait developed in the 1980's and 1990's of the 20th century. Patients all over the world started to realize that they can find medical care abroad for more affordable prices than offered in their own country, this without lowering the medical standard or quality.

Dental tourism was one of the earliest medical tourism fields to develop as many Americans started to receive major dental treatments in Latin America countries. Cuba was one of the first countries to realize the potential of the medical tourism industry, offering different surgeries (eye surgery, cardiac surgery and cosmetic treatments) for more affordable prices attracting medical tourists from Latin America, Europe and India. Thailand has become a major attraction for medical tourists seeking for plastic surgery from the late 1990's.

Israel has also been an early medical tourism destination, attracting patients for rehabilitation medicine since the beginning of the 1990's due to its advanced methods and successful treatments in the discipline.

Today, medical tourism is a blooming industry, as the number of world wide medical tourists is growing substantially every year. The concept of searching for medical care overseas is now a natural choice for patients around the globe.

If you are interested in more information about medical tourism options available to you, please contact us.