Abstract:
The limited academic literature on “medical tourism” has relatively ignored the vast number of patients from developing countries traveling abroad for medical care. This case study employed a mixed-methods approach to examine the motivations and experiences of Nigerian patients who visited India for healthcare. Twenty Nigerian patients and their companions were interviewed. A brief questionnaire and semi-structured interview guide were the research instruments. These were analyzed using a combination of grounded theory and thematic analysis. Both instruments revealed that patients travelled for life-and/or quality-of-life saving medical needs, often with the goal of simply surviving. While improved health was the participants’ singular priority, equipped and responsive hospital staff the most positive aspect of participants’ experiences. However, the challenges were numerous, including language/cultural barriers, high costs, long-term separation from family and work, and culture shock specific to a more advanced care setting. Being in India also inspired reflections on participants’ own health care systems, particularly in the realms of patients’ rights, the efficacy of health professionals, and “development.” It was also established that the political class and top businessmen were those who had the means of easily accessing medical care in India. A quantitative approach to data gathered from the field showed that the trend of outbound medical tourism from Nigeria to India grew at an exponential rate and the trajectory shows no sign of slowing down. The implications of this study are numerous, including informing the experiences of future patient travelers from Nigeria, doctors at home and abroad, and health system improvement efforts in both Nigeria and India.
