medical tourism

American  

noun

1. tourist travel for the purpose of receiving medical treatment or improving health or fitness.

   The spiraling cost of healthcare has contributed to the growth of medical tourism.

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Other Word Forms

• medical tourist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of medical tourism

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Leigh Turner, a professor and executive director of the bioethics program at the University of California, Irvine, tracks direct-to-consumer therapies and medical tourism offerings.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

I don’t mind medical tourism, but I was a bit irked this summer when he sent me to a hospital in Chicago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

Asia has emerged as a major hub for medical tourism, with wealthy patients heading to South Korea for cosmetic surgeries and to Singapore's private hospitals for advanced medical treatments.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2025

Aw doesn’t expect this to materially impact IHH’s earnings and remains positive on its diversified regional base, solid execution track record and earnings support from Singapore’s recovery and rising medical tourism in Malaysia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025

Mr. Kodsi said his project would cater to the boom in medical tourism.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2024