Medical Tourism Overseas: A Challenge to Kuwait’s Healthcare System

Introduction: The State of Kuwait spends large sums of governmental funds on sending patients abroad to receive medical treatment. This study aimed to explain the rationale behind receiving primary medical care overseas, given the expense and inconvenience, from the perspective of Kuwaiti patients whose applications were approved. Methods: The survey was designed based on recommendations from an expert panel of physicians working in Kuwait and aimed to give insight into outbound medical services as perceived by the Kuwaiti population. Using Google Forms, the survey was sent electronically to ۱۰۶۷ patients who received treatment abroad sponsored by the government in the year ۲۰۱۸, and ۵۹۰ responses were returned. The study itself explored reasons for seeking treatment abroad, finances, preferred countries, and whether there were touristic reasons behind such practice. Data was analyzed using SPSS version ۲۶. Results: Overall, males (۵۲.۳%) and females (۴۷.۷%) were equally represented in the study sample. The mean age for the study sample was ۴۱±۱۳.۴ years. Approximately ۴۵.۳% of the respondents were married and had children. Of the remaining respondents, ۲۱.۹% were married with no children and ۲۳.۸% were single without children. All respondents received medical treatment abroad, and ۵۲.۳% of the married respondents and ۴۷.۷% of the single respondents stated that they received treatment once and more than once, respectively. Conclusion: Most Kuwaiti citizens do not have faith in the Kuwaiti medical system. Therefore, heavy investments are needed to send patients abroad.

Keywords:

Treatment Abroad , Medical tourism , Economic burden , Kuwait Healthcare