Category: Asia

From hip replacements to hysterectomies, Southeast Asian countries have seen a rapid growth in medical tourism, with about two million international patients a year seeking bargains there. But according to the World Health Organization (WHO), medical tourism is leading to some highly-skilled specialists, as well as other trained medical staff, leaving public health facilities for private ones. Further down the medical hierarchy, unemployed or undertrained staff end up filling chronic shortages in remote areas.