There’s No Place Like Home? New Research Reframes Medical Tourism and Thailand’s Health Choices
In 2024 the international medical tourism market was valued at roughly $31 billion, with researchers projecting a dramatic rise toward nearly $87 billion by 2030. The lure is clear: high-quality care at lower costs, shorter wait times, and access to advanced procedures that may not be readily available at home. Yet a growing body of research and interviews with hospital leaders in Brazil and India suggests that the decision to seek care abroad is not simply about price. It is about a complex mix of clinical outcomes, post-treatment follow-up, continuity of care, and the realities of traveling for health in a world where borders no longer confine expertise. For Thai readers, these findings land in a country that already blends top-tier private hospitals with strong family and cultural expectations about health, aging, and respect for trusted physicians.