Understanding critical success factors for implementing medical tourism in a multi-case analysis

Abstract

Many researchers have analysed various aspects of the Medical Tourism (MT) phenomenon. However, most of them have considered only a specific country for their study. This study explores both the beneficial and adverse effects of medical tourism systematically. It also studies the critical success factors (CSF) for the MT using a multi-case study of dominant countries. A qualitative approach has been used in this survey study to generate a theoretical category. For that, the “Grounded Theory” research method has been selected by which the collected data from real case studies (dominant countries in the MT industry) are categorized and analyzed through specific stages. The extracted elements can illustrate critical success factors of medical tourism and its effects on selected countries. The comprehensive results from the actual case studies were positive. The set of critical success factors can act as a list of items for countries and their health system to address when adopting MT. Two conceptual tables of the proposed critical success factors are in two categories: pull and push factors. This study is the first to yield an integrated perspective of effects on countries along with the classification of critical success factors into pull factors and push factors for implementing MT through a multi-case study that would be of practical value for many countries that have decided to gain benefit from the emerging niche market of MT.

Keywords

• medical tourism
• tourism industry
• qualitative method
• grounded theory
• case study