Ethical issues associated with medical tourism in Africa
Global disparities in medical technologies, laws, economic inequities, and social–cultural differences drive medical tourism (MT), the practice of travelling to consume healthcare that is either too delayed, unavailable, unaffordable or legally proscribed at home. Africa is simultaneously a source a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Market Access & Health Policy |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20016689.2017.1309770 |
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| author | John J. O. Mogaka Lucia Mupara Joyce M Tsoka-Gwegweni |
| author_facet | John J. O. Mogaka Lucia Mupara Joyce M Tsoka-Gwegweni |
| author_sort | John J. O. Mogaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global disparities in medical technologies, laws, economic inequities, and social–cultural differences drive medical tourism (MT), the practice of travelling to consume healthcare that is either too delayed, unavailable, unaffordable or legally proscribed at home. Africa is simultaneously a source and destination for MT. MT however, presents a new and challenging health ethics frontier, being largely unregulated and characterized by policy contradictions, minority discrimination and conflict of interest among role-players. This article assesses the level of knowledge of MT and its associated ethical issues in Africa; it also identifies critical research gaps on the subject in the region. Exploratory design guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework was used. Key search terms and prior determined exclusion/inclusion criteria were used to identify relevant literature sources. Fifty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Distributive justice, healthcare resource allocation, experimental treatments and organ transplant were the most common ethical issues of medical tourism in Africa. The dearth of robust engagement of MT and healthcare ethics, as identified through this review, calls for more rigorous research on this subject. Although the bulk of the medical tourism industry is driven by global legal disparities based on ethical considerations, little attention has been given to this subject. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-92b2b634e6a54d31a4e377bb0283d636 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2001-6689 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Market Access & Health Policy |
| spelling | doaj-art-92b2b634e6a54d31a4e377bb0283d6362025-08-20T03:20:37ZengMDPI AGJournal of Market Access & Health Policy2001-66892017-01-015110.1080/20016689.2017.13097701309770Ethical issues associated with medical tourism in AfricaJohn J. O. Mogaka0Lucia Mupara1Joyce M Tsoka-Gwegweni2University of KwaZulu NatalUniversity of KwaZulu NatalUniversity of KwaZulu NatalGlobal disparities in medical technologies, laws, economic inequities, and social–cultural differences drive medical tourism (MT), the practice of travelling to consume healthcare that is either too delayed, unavailable, unaffordable or legally proscribed at home. Africa is simultaneously a source and destination for MT. MT however, presents a new and challenging health ethics frontier, being largely unregulated and characterized by policy contradictions, minority discrimination and conflict of interest among role-players. This article assesses the level of knowledge of MT and its associated ethical issues in Africa; it also identifies critical research gaps on the subject in the region. Exploratory design guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework was used. Key search terms and prior determined exclusion/inclusion criteria were used to identify relevant literature sources. Fifty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Distributive justice, healthcare resource allocation, experimental treatments and organ transplant were the most common ethical issues of medical tourism in Africa. The dearth of robust engagement of MT and healthcare ethics, as identified through this review, calls for more rigorous research on this subject. Although the bulk of the medical tourism industry is driven by global legal disparities based on ethical considerations, little attention has been given to this subject.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20016689.2017.1309770Health ethicsAfricamedical tourismhealthcare delivery |
| spellingShingle | John J. O. Mogaka Lucia Mupara Joyce M Tsoka-Gwegweni Ethical issues associated with medical tourism in Africa Journal of Market Access & Health Policy Health ethics Africa medical tourism healthcare delivery |
| title | Ethical issues associated with medical tourism in Africa |
| title_full | Ethical issues associated with medical tourism in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Ethical issues associated with medical tourism in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethical issues associated with medical tourism in Africa |
| title_short | Ethical issues associated with medical tourism in Africa |
| title_sort | ethical issues associated with medical tourism in africa |
| topic | Health ethics Africa medical tourism healthcare delivery |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20016689.2017.1309770 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnjomogaka ethicalissuesassociatedwithmedicaltourisminafrica AT luciamupara ethicalissuesassociatedwithmedicaltourisminafrica AT joycemtsokagwegweni ethicalissuesassociatedwithmedicaltourisminafrica |