Eureka! Institutional Repository

Introduction: Tourism is a complicated issue and, as a result, it was impossible a definite and absolute definition to be given. Both in Greece and in Europe there are historical data, which prove that travels and transportation were part of people’s culture since the ancient times. Today, thousands of patients choose to travel to a foreign country in order to undergo an operation. Aim: The recording of the latest data about the issue of Medical Tourism, of information regarding patients-tourists and of the means by which the field of Medical Tourism evolves in each country. Methodology: The information stems from scientific assignments, which were searched through the Google Scholar browser, and also from websites of nursing institutes and of bodies concerned about Medical Tourism actively during the last decade. Results: Medical Tourism is quite prevalent, since it offers a range of operations and destinations, depending on the affordability and the personal choices of the patient-tourist. Moreover, it has been introduced in the industry of many countries, causing a big competition in prices and, as a result, high quality services in really low cost. Conclusions: It is a generally known fact that tourism constitutes a significant financial activity in an international level. It not only offers financial benefits, but also it features the country worldwide, advertising the offered health services and promoting the image of the country abroad. Through many bodies, such as education, means of communication and information and government bodies, Medical Tourism can be developed even more and is capable of improving the health level of the citizens of each country.