WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Kingsley Chinedu Okafor*

ABSTRACT

Background: Medical tourism is a growing global phenomenon in which patients travel across international borders to access healthcare services that may not be available, affordable, or of satisfactory quality in their home countries. Nigeria is among the leading contributors to outbound medical tourism in Africa. This study seeks to assess the financial cost, client satisfaction, and outcome of outbound Medical Tourism among patients who have returned from Medical Tourism in Abuja, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among 220 patients who had returned from medical tourism in other countries. Respondents' driven sampling technique was used in this study, and data were collected using an Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0. Findings: Most patients were referred by their doctor, 130 (81.3%). Most respondents, 90 (56.3%) stayed for between 15 - 21 days of treatment. Over two-thirds, 106 (66.3%), had no disparity in the diagnosis made in Nigeria and that made abroad. Financial implication of outbound medical tourism for patients showed that 64 (40.0%) were self-sponsored, 43 (26.9%) were sponsored by family, 32 (20.0%) were government-sponsored, 12 (7.5% were workplace sponsored, 5 (3.15) were sponsored by donations, 1 (0.63% was by health insurance, 3 (1.9%0 was sponsored by NGOs. Regarding the cost of medical tourism, 18 (11.3%) spent less than 5000 USD, 32 (20.0%) spent between 5000 and less than 10,000 USD, 88 (55.5%) spent between 10,000 to less than 30,000 USD, while 22 (13.8%) spent over 30,000 USD. The mean cost = 22,008 ± 3500 USD. On returning from treatment abroad, a third of respondents, 57 (35.6%), improved, 48 (30.0%) had a total cure. Clients’ satisfaction with treatment revealed that 32 (20.0%) were not satisfied with the treatment they had abroad, 79 (49.4%) were satisfied, 26 (16.3%) were not sure, and 34 (21.3%) were very satisfied. Similarly, 25 (15.6%) stated that the treatment abroad did not work, 65 (40.6%) stated that it helped, and 53 (33.1%) said it helped well. On the perception of the effects of medical tourism (outbound) on healthcare in Nigeria, 122 (76.3%) stated that it is not good for the Nigerian health sector. Conclusion: Surgical procedures and medical checkups were the primary reasons for medical tourism, with doctors being the most influential source of information. Most medical tourists traveled with a companion, typically a spouse or relative, and sought treatment for complex health conditions such as infertility, cancer, and liver disease. The findings highlight the importance of specialized medical care, doctor-patient relationships, and companion-friendly services in the medical tourism industry.

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