Medical Tourism in the Caribbean Region

In this book, readers will learn learn about the equity and ethical issues associated with the practice of medical tourism in the Caribbean. Never before has a book discussed medical tourism with an exclusive focus on the opportunities and challenges it poses in the Caribbean region. As a region heavily dependent on tourism for economic sustainability, many Caribbean nations are looking to diversify their tourism sectors through involvement in medical tourism. In nine chapters, the book examines medical tourism through the lens of the Caribbean region to understand how and why this offshoring sector is unfolding in the way is and to consider who benefits from and is harmed by this global health services practice.

This book is based on the author's first-hand research throughout the Caribbean region. The chapters are framed around specific insights she has gleaned about how medical tourism is unfolding in the region and its ethical and implications. Chapter 1 gives an overview of the global health services practice of medical tourism, and briefly introduces readers to the Caribbean region. Chapter 2 offers criticisms about the reliability of the information made available about medical tourism, not just in the Caribbean but also globally. Chapters 3 through 7 examine the complexities associated with competition between countries, the movement of locals and tourists between islands, the intersection of medical tourism and mobilities such as offshore medical schools, and the networks of impact resulting from the rise of medical tourism. Chapters 8 and 9 introduce the idea that there are 'winners' and 'losers' associated with medical tourism throughout the Caribbean region and that there is complexity with determining who falls into which group. This book will be of interest to students, academics, researchers, and policy makers involved with medical geography, global health, and health policy.