Health Medical Tourism in Gynecology Disorders in Iran

Health tourism is a developing business in world. There was 14-16 million medical tourism on 2017 in the world. Any medical tourism pay about 3800-6000 dollars per trip, so medical tourism make a 450 billion dollar industry annually. Medical tourism is in progress specially in long time therapy and follow up like as knee exchange, cardiac conditions , gastric by pass and liposuctions instead of nasal or dental surgeries.Material and Methods: We reviewed the all evidences in the best countries on field of medical tourism specially in gynecology and obstetrics. We had some in depth interview with stakeholders of medical tourism and data collection about gynecology medical tourism in Iran for determining of opportunities in this area.Results: The most frequent countries for medical tourism are India, brazil, Malesia, Thailand, Turkey, Costa Rica, Taiwan, south coria and Singapore. In field of gynecology medical tourism we can find brazil, Thailand, Mexico and Costa Rica and for infertility Barbados in north of United State, Israel and Thailand. Emirate in Dubai has started special programs for tourist attraction. The most important standards for hospital medical tourism are JCI (and Joint Commission International , NABH) National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers). Hospitals with JCI standards increased from 800 to 1071 with 20 percent elevation to date in the world. Iran has not any hospital with JCI or NABH standards. IPD(International Patients Department) standards carry out in Iranian hospitals and only 170 hospital and 6 limited surgery center have this Iranian certification for medical tourism. Dental and cosmetic surgeries, heart diseases, infertility, transplantation and neurosurgery are the most frequent treatments in international medical tourism. In Iran gynecology, cardiac conditions, cosmetic surgeries like as hair graft and rhinoplasty, eye surgeries are common. Medical tourists have to pay five-time coast of approved Iranian price, although this price is very low according Iranian Rial value in recent years. The most visitors in Iran are from Afghanistan, Iragh and from Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Oman. Tehran, Qom and Mashhad had more than 70.000 medial tourism in last year.Unfortunately brokers are the most facilitators instead of standards facilitator agents in Iran. Middlemen make frequent problems process for selection of best treatment and follow up and higher prices in patients.Conclusion: The most important needs for gynecology area are cosmetic and infertility. It is necessary to evaluate patients’ needs in different target countries. We have to improve infrastructures in gynecology hospitals specially IPD and JCI standards and facilitators. Gynecology society shall to make treatment packages for foreign patients to make more income for gynecologists.