This paper attempts to examine the current trends of medical tourism in some Asian countries, identify the challenges and concerns faced by it and suggest policies that may help it grow as an important economic contributor for the Sultanate of Oman in near future. This paper also analyzes many reasons why Omani patients travel abroad for medical care because they do not have access to a particular treatment or domestic limitations in technology, training, or infrastructure; or because of long waiting lists. Many others travel simply because they cannot afford a particular procedure in their own country. On the supply side, several developing countries have dramatically improved the quality of care they can offer. This growing supply is able to meet the increased demand in substantial part because of the Internet, which enables foreign providers to contact patients and signal their credentials.

This paper attempts to examine the current trends of medical tourism in some Asian countries, identify the challenges and concerns faced by it and suggest policies that may help it grow as an important economic contributor for the Sultanate of Oman in near future. This paper also analyzes many reaso...