Medical Tourism in Georgia: Current Barriers and Recommendations

Verulava, Tengiz and Jorbenadze, Revaz (2018) Medical Tourism in Georgia: Current Barriers and Recommendations. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 18 (1). pp. 81-87. ISSN 1675-0306

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the effective factors that influence the development of medical tourism in Georgia. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used for research. Within the qualitative research the experts of medical tourism were interviewed. Within the qualitative research this study investigates medical tourists’ expectations and perceptions regarding healthcare services. Study tools were prepared on the basis of specially developed “Medical Outcomes Study, Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire” (MOS PSQ-III). The results reveal that policies and regulations, government support, costs, capacity problems, and the healthcare needs of the local community are the main barriers to the development of such tourism. Several strategies for lifting these barriers are suggested, such as new promotional activity policies, government action to encourage investment in the medical tourism market, and cooperative efforts by the hospitality sector and medical institutions to develop medical tourism products. This paper sheds light on a poorly researched field in the Georgian context. It provides directions for hospital managers to develop strategies which will meet patients’ expectations of service quality and increase their competitiveness in the health tourism market.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	medical tourism, service quality, customer satisfaction, hospital, health services, Georgia
Subjects:	Business H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HL Healthcare Policy and Management H Social Sciences > HO Public Health Business > Tourism Management
Divisions:	Centres > Insurance and Public Health Center
Depositing User:	Professor Tengiz Verulava
Date Deposited:	16 Apr 2018 10:26
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2018 10:26
URI:	http://eprints.iliauni.edu.ge/id/eprint/7927

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