Medical tourism, the practice of traveling abroad for medical treatment, is a popular choice for people seeking cost-effective, timely and high-quality healthcare services.
Estimated to be worth US$54.4 billion in 2020, the medical tourism industry is expected to grow to over US$200 billion by 2027. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions on foreign travel have significantly affected the industry.
In response, the healthcare sector has embraced telemedicine, incorporating virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to deliver remote healthcare services. With its potential to overcome geographic barriers and improve patient experiences, metaverse technology has the potential to boost medical tourism, but has the hype died down?
Connected: The Metaverse’s Potential to Disrupt Healthcare
The appeal of medical tourism lies in its ability to offer cost savings, faster treatment and access to quality medical care. In addition, countries benefiting from medical tourism have increased international accreditation of medical institutions and advancements in healthcare facilities due to the influx of medical travelers. As a result, investors were encouraged to build new hospitals and clinics and expand existing ones to meet the growing demand for medical services from abroad.
As rising healthcare costs in the US and other countries continue to shape and expand the medical tourism market, medical travel providers are grappling with significant challenges that are hindering their growth and profitability.
According to a 2023 study by the Medical Tourism Association, lack of trust, poor patient experiences, and ineffective marketing tools are the top barriers to converting prospects into leads. More than 53 percent of survey respondents say the main barrier to growth is a lack of potential customers, with the Middle East (20.5%), North America (22.7%) and Asia Pacific (31.8%) are leading most affected.
Pre-travel barriers such as inadequate communication, stressful pre-travel arrangements and lack of information lead to poor patient experiences. This is where the metaverse can help strengthen the medical tourism industry. Prospective patients can take a try-before-you-buy approach to preview procedures and locations, as well as where they’ll be staying to recover, without ever having to leave the house.
The term “metaverse” refers to a network of integrated 3D virtual worlds that users can access and navigate in real time. It’s a tech idea that’s gained traction since Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg changed the social media platform to include VR and AR models. Using eye movements and voice commands, users can explore these virtual environments using a headset that creates the feeling of being physically in the hospital.
Last October, UAE-based Thumbay Group announced the launch of the first Metaverse Hospital in the region. Dr. Thumbar Moideen, founder and president of Thumbay Group, claims that Metaverse Hospital will be a completely virtual facility where visitors can arrive in avatar form, explore the space as if it were real, and even get a doctor’s consultation. In addition to the novelty of the technology, from a practical point of view, this aims to alleviate long waiting times and geographical barriers for patients.
Dr. Moideen also highlighted how patients who are admitted locally and would like to spend time with their relatives at home can benefit from the virtual model. “For example, a man from Sri Lanka has been with us for a long period of time who was paralyzed after a car accident and his sensory movements are gone, but only his brain is functioning,” he explains. “He can virtually visit his room in Sri Lanka through AR and VAR technology. It motivates long-term care patients and gives them hope that they can return to their country.”
Connected: Exploring exciting healthcare opportunities in the metaverse
At Arab Health 2022, the UAE Ministry of Health and Community Protection (MOHAP) unveiled the launch of the first metaverse-based customer service center to provide virtual customer care in a digitally immersive and interactive way.
Combining real-world and virtual care has the potential to improve patient care delivery and expand the scope of medical travel. The growing number of healthcare companies and technology organizations navigating this unexplored region has the potential to unlock new digital solutions to increase the growth of medical tourism. However, as it stands now, the metaverse’s impact on medical tourism is still too early to tell.
Advantages of the metaverse
Preoperative Insights
In the metaverse, would-be medical tourists can embark on a virtual journey to their chosen destination and healthcare facility. This allows them to get a pre-operative view of the hospital layout, quality of facilities and environment.
Virtual tours can include not only hospital facilities, but also accommodations, local attractions, and even travel options. Thus, medical tourists can make more informed decisions about their travel, promoting trust and transparency.
Telemedicine consultations
Telemedicine services integrated into the metaverse offer a new way for medical tourists to connect with health care providers in their country of destination. Virtual consultations can help patients connect with their doctors and get pre-trip assessments. These virtual consultations can include discussions about treatment plans, recovery expectations and post-operative care, all from the comfort of the metaverse.
Mental health and support
Metaverse can host support groups and counseling sessions for medical tourists dealing with pre-op anxiety or post-op recovery. Virtual reality (VR) experiences can create a supportive and immersive environment that promotes mental well-being.
These virtual support networks can connect patients who share similar medical journeys, providing emotional support and valuable insights.
Aftercare and rehabilitation
After returning home, medical tourists can continue their post-operative care and rehabilitation through the metaverse. VR-based rehabilitation exercises and follow-up counseling can help patients stick to their treatment plans and recover more effectively. Telerehabilitation not only improves the patient experience, but also facilitates long-term care by reducing the need for frequent in-person visits.
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