Navigating Healthcare in a Crisis

Abstract

This chapter examines the emerging trend of medical tourism in India, focusing on two specific cases: cardiovascular surgery in Kozhikode, Kerala, and a total hip replacement in New Delhi. Through a thematic analysis, the research elucidates the significant role of health literacy in guiding patients' decisions to seek medical interventions abroad. This chapter highlights several themes. One is balancing concerns about healthcare costs with the care quality in India. Another is how online research and patient stories affect decisions. Planning before the trip is detailed. After-treatment care is vital. The chapter also looks at how cultural experiences in medical trips can help patients. It emphasizes the need to understand and use health information, especially in medical tourism, examining how health knowledge influences patient choices.