TABLE 7.
The Role of the Government in Medical Tourism in the Country of the Respondents
| Variable | Frequency | % |
|---|---|---|
| Government has a sponsorship program for referring patients abroad | ||
| Yes | 28 | 54.9 |
| No | 23 | 45.1 |
| Missing | 1 | — |
| Government-sponsored abroad treatment types (n = 28) | ||
| Bone marrow transplant | 17 | 60.7 |
| Liver transplant | 11 | 39.3 |
| Complex oncologic surgeries | 20 | 71.4 |
| Brachytherapy | 7 | 25.0 |
| Radiotherapy | 11 | 39.3 |
| Chemotherapy for all cancers | 5 | 17.9 |
| Chemotherapy for certain cancers | 6 | 21.4 |
| Immunotherapy | 9 | 32.1 |
| Others | 9 | 32.1 |
| Government-sponsored abroad cancer types (n = 28) | ||
| Bladder | 0 | 0.0 |
| Breast | 13 | 46.4 |
| Cervical | 3 | 10.7 |
| CNS | 5 | 17.9 |
| Colorectal | 8 | 28.6 |
| Eye | 1 | 3.6 |
| Kidney | 1 | 3.6 |
| Larynx | 4 | 14.3 |
| Leukemia | 11 | 39.3 |
| Liver | 4 | 14.3 |
| Lung | 5 | 17.9 |
| Lymphoma | 6 | 21.4 |
| Melanoma | 3 | 10.7 |
| Multiple myeloma | 10 | 35.7 |
| Esophageal | 4 | 14.3 |
| Ovarian | 1 | 3.6 |
| Pancreatic | 3 | 10.7 |
| Prostate | 8 | 28.6 |
| Stomach | 2 | 7.1 |
| Testicular | 0 | 0.0 |
| Thyroid | 3 | 10.7 |
| Other | 3 | 10.7 |
| What elements of care are covered by the government? (n = 28) | ||
| Medical bill and transport | 5 | 17.9 |
| Medical bill and living expenses | 1 | 3.6 |
| Medical bill only | 8 | 28.6 |
| Medical bill, living expenses and transport | 14 | 50.0 |
| When referring a patient abroad for government-sponsored treatment, is there a regulatory board/committee or approval mechanism in place that you adhere to? (n = 28) | ||
| Yes | 25 | 89.3 |
| No | 1 | 3.6 |
| Unsure | 2 | 7.1 |
| How equitable is the state-sponsored referral process? (n = 28) | ||
| Occasionally, patients who do not satisfy criteria are sponsored | 1 | 3.8 |
| Only those who satisfy criteria are sponsored | 12 | 46.2 |
| Patients with connections and affluence are more likely to be sponsored | 13 | 50 |
| Missing | 2 | — |