Medical and dental tourism
en studie om sjuk- och tandvårdsturismens drivkrafter bland svenskar
This essay concerns medical- and dental tourism. The main purpose with the essay was to study which factors that affects Swedish choices to seek medical- and dental care abroad and therefore reach an understanding for Swedish medical- and dental tourism to other countries. The aim has also been to try to reach an insight in how Swedish medical- and dental tourism might develop the future. The study is based on qualitative interviews with five officials who were well-grounded in the field. The theoretical framework concerned the need of travel, push- and pull factors, Maslow?s hierarchy of needs and the thinking about needs within business activities. We found out that both factors within and outside Sweden influence the choice to seek care abroad. Significant push factors are disadvantages within the Swedish medical- and dental system, especially long waiting periods and high costs but also insufficient service. Important pull factors are security and cultural similarities but also service and marketing. All of the interviewed officials believe that medical- and dental tourism will increase in the future.