Summary
Article provides a spa in Ghana as an example of a boom in health tourism to that country. Medical tourism is popular already but many of those seeking care come from countries with less well developed services and tend to visit Western hospitals, rather than the reverse. There remains a need for basic health care services in Ghana (and elsewhere) but this does not seem to cater for any but the affluent.
Analysis
Whether this one example constitutes 'a boom' remains to be seen. The center referred to provides "massage, hydrotherapy and beauty treatments, (and) also offers a range of cosmetic and other surgery" and so without knowing what types of surgery are provided one might assume that the services lean towards those from the spa rather than the operating theater.
Medical tourism is popular already but many of those seeking care come from countries with less well developed services and tend to visit Western hospitals, rather than the reverse. Africa is a spectacularly beautiful country and it is not difficult to understand the appeal of spa services provided in an environment as appealing as that described. However, convincing those with the means to pay for their choice of medical care anywhere in the world is a tough sell.
If economy - or price - is a deciding factor for medical tourists, then maybe. It seems that for many, it is not.
Finally, an interesting comment from the Managing Director of this particular facility, who said "With the influx of the foreign exchange that comes into the country, we will be able to build a health service and institutions and enhance conditions in the [overall] health service structure," he says, "and we shall be able to stop the brain drain."
As the article appears to describe the facility as a private, for-profit concern it would be interesting to understand the mechanism by which revenues from this enterprise will flow back into the economy to improve the country's health service.
