iii

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION. 7

CHAPTER 1

DEFINITION OF MEDICAL TOURISM: INTERNATIONAL DYNAMICS, BENEFITS, RISKS, AGENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES. 17

Healthcare Systems and Medical Tourism: A

Theoretical and Conceptual Investigation. 22

Risks and Challenges . 28

Concluding Remarks. 43

CHAPTER 2

OVERVIEW OF THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY IN COLOMBIA. 45

General Diagnosis. 46

Regulatory and Promoting Agencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Concluding Remarks. 67

CHAPTER 3

STATISTICAL APPROACH TO THE HEALTH SECTOR IN COLOMBIA. 70

Figures of the Health Sector in the Last Five Years. 72

Concluding Remarks. 83

CHAPTER 4

OVERVIEW OF THE MEDICAL TOURISM INDUSTRY IN COLOMBIA. 86

General Dynamics of the Colombian Medical

Tourism Industry. 88

Risks and Economic Growth of the Industry. 92

Concluding Remarks. 99

CHAPTER 5

CONTRIBUTION OF MEDICAL TOURISM TO THE COLOMBIAN ECONOMY. 103

Perspectives of the Industry. 106

Concluding Remarks on the Contribution of Medical

Tourism to the Colombian Economy. 112

Ethical Considerations of Medical Tourism in

Colombia: Philosophical and Economic Analysis

Involving Participant Agents . 112

Ethical Concerns and Agents of the Industry. 116

Concluding Remarks. 133

CONCLUSIONS. 147

REFERENCES. 150