Medical Tourism

You may have heard the term “medical tourism” multiple times. In today’s modern world, “Medical Tourism” has carved out a special place for itself.

Imagine an individual who intends to travel to other parts of the world (which have advanced facilities and renowned, skilled specialists) for a medical or even aesthetic procedure. This person decides to embark on this journey with the aim of benefiting from the medical services of the destination country.

What is the Purpose of Medical Tourism?

Therefore, with a little reflection, one can understand the purpose of medical tourism: “to benefit from high-quality medical services and achieve ideal and satisfactory results.”

It is important to note that medical tourism is completely different from other ordinary medical trips. In this regard:

In medical trips, the individual seeks to travel to other countries that provide the necessary medical services due to the lack of such services in their own country.
In medical tourism, the individual decides to travel despite having access to the necessary medical services in their own country, in order to utilize similar services offered in other countries.

The medical services provided can vary based on the patient’s preferences and requests. These may range from simple dental services to advanced surgeries such as heart surgery and more.

History of Medical Tourism

The history of medical tourism dates back thousands of years, when in ancient Greece, pilgrims from various parts of the world crossed the Mediterranean Sea to reach the Seronic Gulf.

They believed that the Greek god of healing, Asclepius, resided on this island and could help cure their ailments. Those who traveled to this island sought treatment for their diseases through practices such as fasting and worship.

In today’s advanced world, Epidauros (the Seronic Gulf) is considered the first and oldest medical tourism destination.

According to existing evidence, the history and longevity of health tourism is as old as the science of medicine itself. The history of medical tourism goes back to ancient times and is not limited to periods when people traveled abroad for therapeutic surgeries such as heart operations or plastic surgeries.

By outlining the timeline of medical tourism, one can conclude that throughout history, there have always been individuals and patients who decided to travel for treatment in order to meet their medical needs in other parts of the world.

The Concept of Medical Tourism from the Perspective of the World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization defines medical tourism as an individual’s travel to other countries for the treatment of various physical ailments or to undergo a type of cosmetic surgery.

Medical tourism became popular in the early 1990s. Its rise in popularity can be attributed to the appeal of Asian countries, economic crises in those countries, and the expertise of specialists in that part of the world.

Iran: A Powerful Hub for Medical Tourism

Fortunately, science and technology in Iran have advanced to a level where they can meet the medical and aesthetic needs of residents from other parts of the world.

Many experienced and skilled specialists in Iran are ready to provide various medical and aesthetic services to individuals from other countries. These services are offered with the highest quality and complete professionalism.