Innovations in medical tourism against the paradigm of sustainable development background

Responsible consumer and lifestyle: Sustainability insights

“…Thus, it requires a more optimum approach ( Hedlund-de Witt, 2012 ). Sustainable lifestyle pertains to continued, altruistic and frugal behaviours of an individual ( Corral-Verdugo et al., 2010 ), who maintains harmony with the society, economy and environment, which is reflected by a number of environmental ( Ponikowska, 2016 ; CDC, 2018 ) and health-related practices ( Marjanen et al., 2016 ; Światowy and Szalonka, 2018 ; Machnik and Lubowiecki-Vikuk, 2020 ), in order to be “living well within earth's limits” ( O'Neill et al., 2018 ; Vita et al., 2019 ). Researchers believe that such practices encompass a wide range of activities, including energy and water conservation, waste recycling, “green” consumption and travel and tourism behaviours ( Barr and Gilg, 2006 ; Barr et al., 2011 ; Peneda de Oliveira and Sousa, 2020 ).…”

Sustainable Medical Tourism: Conceptual Framework

“…Trips of more affluent patients to economically underdeveloped or developing countries may arouse in them a sense of superiority, overconfidence, as well as an instrumental and aggressive approach to the natives, which will negatively affect the opinion about the country from which they come. This also supports the consolidation of the undesirable and socially harmful phenomenon of the so-called neocolonialism and deepening of the differences between the societies of poorer and prosperous countries (Machnik and Lubowiecki-Vikuk 2019). An arduous effect of the development of medical tourism is too rapid urbanization.…”

“…• Training and protection of patient coordinators (including insurance) against the burdens associated with personalized patient service (Crooks et al 2017). • Marketing activities based on the creation of a transparent website where potential patients will have better access to information necessary for making informed decisions about the treatment process, e.g., membership in prestigious associations, experience, and description of medical procedures usedpain-free treatment (Turner 2012 Travel stages Tasks Details Travel planning b : booking the appropriate means of transport (considering the restrictions after the procedure), booking the accommodation Set a date for the planned medical procedure Prepare travel-related documents (passport, visa, tickets) for the patient and the person/persons accompanying him/her Use the help of a medical facility in the organization and service of the medical tourism movement respecting environmental justice through, inter alia, proper disposal and treatment of medical waste (Machnik and Lubowiecki-Vikuk 2019). Waste generated in connection with the provision of health services and conducting research and scientific experiments in the field of medicine is a significant environmental protection problem, mainly due to the dispersion of their places of origin.…”

“…Apart from the issues connected in particular with the three fundamental pillars of sustainability, it is necessary to build strong cooperation between stakeholders (Perkumien_ e et al 2019) and have a good strategy and law (Medhekar 2014). Additional factors in order to accomplish sustainability in medical tourism development are innovations, technical as well as procedural ones (Machnik and Lubowiecki-Vikuk 2019). Wellorganized and trustworthy medical care can be an attracting factor for medical tourists and even become some kind of a trademark (Bolos 2013).…”

“…Reassuming, three topics seem to be very important for future sustainable development of medical tourismgovernment involvement (Medhekar 2014), participants' cooperation (Perkumien_ e et al 2019, and innovations (Machnik and Lubowiecki-Vikuk 2019). As Medhekar (2014, p. 102) remarks, such stakeholders (as the government, medical industry, healthcare providers and facilitators, and tourism industry) "should move towards a more equitable and consumer-centered healthcare and medical service provision to international as well as domestic local patients, as part of an overall effort to improve the quality of health care delivery in a timely manner, at an affordable cost, short waiting period, along with providing safety, privacy with clean hygienic public facilities and world class quality of healthcare facilities treatment, country infrastructure and tourism facilities."…”