Canadian medical tourism companies that have exited the marketplace: Content analysis of websites used to market transnational medical travel.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Medical tourism companies play an important role in promoting transnational medical travel for elective, out-of-pocket medical procedures. Though researchers are paying increasing attention to the global phenomenon of medical tourism, to date websites of medical tourism companies have received limited scrutiny. This article analyzes websites of Canadian medical tourism companies that advertised international healthcare but ultimately exited the marketplace. Using content analysis of company websites as an investigative tool, the article provides a detailed account of medical tourism companies that were based in Canada but no longer send clients to international health care facilities.

Methods

Internet searches, Google Alerts, searches on Google News Canada and Pro

SUBMITTER: Turner L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3223128 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature