Health Export and Health Tourism Roles in European Union Countries

Abstract

Health exports have increased to 100 billion dollars per year and it has become an important item in service exports all over the world. Demographic structures are changing with the old population in developed countries, and health tourism among countries has increased. This chapter aims to study health tourism in European Union, aiming to create a single market with member countries and with free movement of people among member countries. EU policy permits member countries' citizens to get health service from any other member country. A literature review shows that the differences between member countries' national health systems is one of the main issues to be resolved and that the countries with old populations who need health care affect health tourism from developed countries with old population countries to countries with young population like Spain. Along with the legislation, ethical, social issues, and standard international rules accepted by all countries covering all aspects of health tourism must be set by international organisations like the WHO to avoid potential risks for the patients.