Problems and opportunities of medical tourism in the Chelyabinsk region.
Authors:   South Ural State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moskvicheva M.G. , Safina E.R. ,   South Ural State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Published: April 2024

Since January 1, 2019, the Federal project “Development of export of medical services” is being implemented, which is aimed at improving the quality of medical services in the Russian Federation and their promotion on the international market. Despite this, the problems and opportunities of medical tourism remain one of the urgent health problems not only in Russia, but also in the Chelyabinsk region. Through the conducted research, among political, economic, social and technological factors, problems and opportunities affecting the development of the export of medical services in the region were identified. The experts also named the necessary measures for the development and promotion of medical services on the international market Aim: analysis of existing problems in the field of medical tourism and import of medical services offered on the territory of the Russian Federation, and identification of possible prospects for the development of this area of medical activity. Materials and methods. The materials of this study were analytical materials and official statistical data of the FSBI “TSNIIOIZ” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. When processing the results, the information and analytical method, the statistical method, the method of questioning and expert evaluation, the method of processing and summarizing information were used. Results. The study involved 50 medical workers holding senior positions in medical organizations of the Chelyabinsk region (heads of structural divisions, chief physicians and deputy chief physicians). The study of the opinion of the study participants on the problems and prospects of the development of medical tourism led to the following results: • Shortage of personnel and material and technical resources is the main constraining factor of development in the provision of medical services to foreign citizens • It is necessary to equip medical organizations with a sufficient amount of medical equipment to increase the level of medical services provided to foreign citizens. The analysis of the external environment revealed political, economic, social and technological factors that hinder and contribute to the development of medical tourism in the country. Thus, the leading political factor contributing to the development of the export of medical services, experts called the support of medical tourism from the state. And the respondents consider the sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States to be the main negative political factor. Respondents consider the relatively low cost of providing paid medical services as the main economic opportunity for the development of medical tourism. Whereas the main negative economic factor is the increase in the cost of medical devices and medical equipment due to restrictions on the import of imported equipment directly and the emergence of parallel imports. The most important for attracting foreign patients among social factors is the level of qualification of medical personnel, as well as high performance indicators in certain medical areas. Significant social threats, from the point of view of the respondents, is the lack of a unified system of voluntary medical insurance and international accreditation for most medical organizations of the Russian Federation. In order to develop medical tourism and increase the demand for Russian medical organizations among foreign tourists, the participants of the experiment consider it necessary to use the latest treatment technologies and achieve an international level of service, as well as create conditions that will help foreign patients to facilitate obtaining a medical visa. Conclusion. The results of the study made it possible to assess the problems of medical tourism and assess the prospects for development from the point of view of the heads of medical organizations of the Chelyabinsk region, as well as to develop a set of measures for the development of medical tourism in the Chelyabinsk region. The scope of the results. The data obtained will allow us to develop a set of measures aimed at the development of medical tourism in Russia, the adoption of which will help to increase the volume of exports of medical services and the number of treated foreign citizens.