Medical tourism

Medical tourism has become one of the most popular types of recreation among tourists in our time. Previously, people often went on vacation solely to visit the sea, as well as sunny resorts, to see various attractions and historical places, but now many have begun to pay more attention to their own health. That is why tourists now often purchase vouchers to health resorts and sanatoriums, going there as part of health tours.

Medical and health tourism

Medical and health tourism is now developed at a very high level in many different countries. Many cities have unique centers that help overcome various diseases and provide high-quality diagnostics. Medical tours to India are very popular, as in addition to professional specialists, it has a healthy climate (especially favorable for people with respiratory diseases). Tourists also often go to Thailand and Israel to improve their health.

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Development of medical and health tourism

The method of spa treatment for the purpose of health improvement using natural resources has been known since ancient times. At that time, people built simple buildings in places where mineral waters came to the surface of the earth, which were prototypes of today's balneological centers. In addition, rumors that these springs had healing properties spread among the people very quickly, which led to the fact that patients from all over flocked to these places.

Balneology first appeared around the 5th century BC. At that time, Herodotus developed methods of use, as well as indications for the use of healing mineral liquids. Aristotle also wrote on this topic. Plutarch noted the presence of healing thermal springs on the island of Euboea, to which patients flocked even from the most remote regions. At the same time, construction began on the first buildings in which travelers who arrived for health procedures were accommodated.

After the Bronze Age, there was already material evidence that during this period of time, treatment procedures were carried out using mineral springs. Archaeologists found the remains of buildings erected near springs of carbonated water in the area that is now located on the territory of the resort center of Santa Morsh, located in Switzerland. The ruins of many ancient water clinics were also discovered during excavations in Greece.

The Romans built health and treatment facilities in the locations of mineral springs in the territories they conquered. The remains of ruins of such buildings dating back to the times of Roman rule have survived to this day. For example, the remains of the hospitals located on the site of today's Sinjorz Bay resorts, as well as Beile Herculane in Romania (Budapest), are well preserved. In addition, the ruins of former Roman health centers are located in the Yugoslav resorts of Dobrna and Varazdi Toplice, on the shores of Lake Balaton in Hungary, in Wiesbaden in Germany and Baden in Switzerland, Bath in Britain and Aix-les-Bains in France, as well as Timgod in Algeria and Hisar in Bulgaria.

The most famous medieval treatment centers were Aachen and Plombières-Ben. In addition to them, the mineral springs located in Cauterets and Spa were also quite popular, and from the 13th century onwards, patients again flocked to the Abano Terme springs, which were known in earlier times. Around the middle of the 14th century, the treatment center in Baden-Baden became popular, and Carlsbad also appeared (now this health center is called Karlovy Vary).

During the 16th-18th centuries, work was carried out to create full-fledged health centers - balneological resorts, as well as mud baths. Since the 16th century, patients began to pay in Carlsbad, and a clear schedule for conducting therapeutic sessions appeared. In France, since the beginning of the 17th century, a resort inspectorate appeared, which was engaged in monitoring the condition of existing treatment centers, as well as the procedure for operating such resorts.

The development of medical and health tourism in European countries reached its greatest intensity in the 17th-19th centuries. During this period, the first sanatorium exclusively for children was opened at the seaside resort in Margate (Great Britain). Later, similar children's hospitals began to be built in France and Italy.

By the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries, most of the popular European health centers appeared, which, in addition to treatment, now include tourist and entertainment programs.

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Types of medical tourism

Each of the health centers has a separate specialization, depending on several factors. Among them are the types of therapy and rehabilitation used in different centers, as well as what natural healing resources the resort has. Health tourism can be carried out using various methods, the types of which are described below:

• A type of balneological mud therapy that uses mineral waters and therapeutic mud;
• Balneoclimatic health treatment, which uses, in addition to mineral springs, the healing properties of the climate;
• Balneological health treatment, which uses mineral waters, consumed not only internally, but also externally;
• Mud therapy, in which therapeutic mud is used as a therapy;
• Climatokumis healing treatment, which uses the advantages of forest-steppe/steppe climatic conditions, as well as the healing properties of a fermented milk drink called kumis;
• Climatic healing, in which the climate is used for treatment.

Health tourism trips, like other types of tourist recreation, are organized by travel companies. At the same time, different types of medical tourism are often combined by vacationers.

Sports and health tours with recreation are also considered medical tourism. Health and recreation tourism is a vacation that helps restore the physical and emotional state of the body. This type of vacation is considered the most common in many countries.

Medical tourism in Crimea

Crimea has excellent climatic and natural conditions that are conducive to the creation of health resort facilities. Crimean health resorts can be divided into 2 types, in accordance with the profile of the hospitals and the natural resources of the area:

• Southern Crimean coast;
• Coastal steppe zone.

The southern Crimean coast is the part of the coastline that is located at the foot of the Crimean Mountains (starting from the Kandahar Mountains in the northeast and ending with Cape Aya in the southwest). The main tourist and resort centers of this region are such cities as Yalta, Sudak, Alushta, and Alupka; in addition to them, the villages of Foros, Simeiz, Gurzuf, Koreiz, and Partenit, as well as Gaspra, stand out.

The southern coast combines the optimal necessary air humidity and favorable temperature. And in Yalta it is usually very sunny (about 276 days a year), due to which there is always enough ultraviolet radiation.

Plants growing in mountain forests and parks release substances that have a positive effect on the human body. The sea saturates the air with salts and ionizes it – thus, thanks to the combined effect of the sea and plants, the coast becomes a huge natural inhalator.

Medical tourism in Russia

The center of Russian health tourism (there are sanatoriums with healing muds and mineral springs here) is considered to be the Krasnodar region, as well as the Caucasus. There are also medical sanatorium centers in other Russian regions:

• Anapa is a mud-climatic health resort located in the Krasnodar region. The main healing power of this region is considered to be the mild Mediterranean climate;
• Arshan is a popular balneological health center located in Buryatia;
• Belokurikha is a famous Altai center of balneology;
• Vladivostok mud baths, as well as climatic resort centers located in the Amur Bay;
• Climatic hospitals in Kabardinka and Gelendzhik, located on the Black Sea coastline;
• Darasun is a popular balneological center located in the Chita region;
• Yeisk climate-balneological-mud health center, which is located in the Krasnodar region - on the Azov coast;
• Caucasian balneology centers with mineral springs, located in the Stavropol region (Zheleznogorsk and Essentuki, in addition to them Pyatigorsk, as well as Kislovodsk);
• Spa treatment centers in the Kaliningrad region – mud-climatic centers in Otradnoye, Zelenogorsk and Svetlogorsk;
• Kuldur is a famous balneological hospital in the Khabarovsk region, where hot mineral water springs are used for therapy;
• Nalchik (Kabardino-Balkaria) – climate-balneological-mud health center;
• Kamchatka's Nachika, where there is a balneological health resort offering hot water services, as well as herbal medicine, and Kamchatka's Paratunka, where there is a balneological mud center;
• Health resorts in Greater Sochi, located along the entire length of the Black Sea coast (145 km) - Dagomys, as well as Adler and Krasnaya Polyana together with Khosta;
• Teberda from the Stavropol region is a mountain climate center in the Caucasus;
• Tuapse region (the Black Sea coastline, as well as Krasnodar region) – thalassotherapy sessions, as well as a climatic treatment center;
• Shmakovka (Primorsky district) - a center of balneology;
• Elton, located in the Volgograd region, is a mud therapy center.

Medical tourism in Essentuki

In Yessentuki there is a famous balneological resort center, located in the area of the so-called Caucasian Mineral Springs (southern part of Stavropol Krai). The clinic is located in the valley of the river Podkumok at an altitude of 640 meters.

This hospital specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, as well as metabolic disorders. People with diabetes are often treated here.

For those who wish to improve their health during their holiday, this resort offers various programs based on the healing properties of the salt-carbonic-alkaline waters, as well as sulphide mud from the silt in Lake Tambukan.

There are currently over 10 active mineral springs in this area. Some of them can be used in the process of creating bottled mineral waters for sale, while others have a healing effect only if used immediately on site.

The healing properties of the local climate also contribute to a quick recovery - here tourists get clean air, as well as a dry warm summer against the backdrop of fragrant, lushly blooming greenery. The city has 2 resort park areas: Victory Park and the Main Park. The second appeared here in 1848 - it houses the Lower and Upper Baths, the main drinking gallery of mineral spring No. 4, and in addition to this, a pavilion with exercise therapy, an inhalation room and a department where mechanotherapy is carried out, as well as an aerosolarium.

Medical and health tourism in Belarus

The main specializations of health resorts in Belarus are considered to be the following: diseases of the respiratory organs, and along with them, the musculoskeletal organs and the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and nervous systems. In addition, they treat disorders of the endocrine system and the gastrointestinal tract, gynecological disorders and circulatory organs, skin diseases, problems with the organs of vision and metabolism.

Belarus has a large number of sanatoriums popular among tourists. Among them, the following places stand out:

• "Ozerny", which is located on the White Lake in a pine forest. This center is distinguished by the presence of a water park, and in addition to this, it pleases tourists with its calm and picturesque nature;
• "Borovoe", where vacationers are offered a whole range of various services that allow them to relax and improve their health;
• "Pridneprovsky", which is the largest sanatorium center in Belarus, with a very powerful medical base;
• One of the oldest centers is the sanatorium "Krinitsa", which specializes in eliminating cardiovascular problems. It is located near Minsk;
• The Yunost complex houses one of the most modern Belarusian hydrotherapy centres;
• The Ruzhansky sanatorium is perfect for parents with children;
• "Bug", which is one of the largest year-round operating health resorts in Belarus.

Naroch, which is considered the most popular Belarusian resort - not only Belarusians, but also guests of the country rest here. The center is located on the shore of the lake of the same name. There are 11 health complexes on its territory, the most popular of which are "Sosny", "Priozerny" and "Belaya Rus".

Medical tourism in Europe

Medical tourism is most popular in Europe. Local sanatoriums and health centers have long established themselves as the best in the world. They employ experienced professionals, and the centers themselves have the latest equipment. In addition, these sanatoriums are distinguished by excellent ecology. All this together is the reason for such a high demand for health vouchers.

The most popular centers of European medical tourism are the sanatoriums located in the foothills of the Alps (Vichy in France, as well as Austria, northern Italy and Germany), the western region of the Czech Republic (the resort of Karlovy Vary), Hungary, and also on the Israeli Dead Sea.

Medical tourism in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is considered a country of healing mineral springs, and it is here that one of the most famous resorts in the world is located – Karlovy Vary. Here, patients are successfully treated for metabolic problems, gynecological diseases, diseases of the digestive system and the musculoskeletal system. Peat and healing mud are also used for treatment.

But besides this resort, there are other health resorts in the Czech Republic – there are also treatment packages in Trebon, Marianske Lazne and Teplice.

Medical and health tourism in Spain

Health and wellness tourism in Spain is mainly concentrated in the coastal areas, but there are also many centres inland. Many spas in Spain employ top-notch specialists and offer a wide range of treatments.

Among the specializations of Spanish health resorts, one of the most popular is thalassotherapy. This is one of the types of alternative medicine, which uses the healing properties of sea water and coastal climatic conditions for treatment. Sea water used in Spanish health resorts is considered one of the factors that helps eliminate various diseases. Thalassotherapy helps reduce pain, speeds up recovery, and improves the general condition of the body.

The most popular health centers that offer thalassotherapy treatments are those located on the coasts of the Costa Dorada, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa Brava, and the Canary Islands.

Medical and health tourism in Bulgaria

In the Bulgarian town of Sandanski, at an altitude of 240 m above sea level, there is the medical centre "Sveti Vrach". It is located southwest of Sofia (approximately 170 km) at the foot of the Pirin Mountain. The climate conditions of this area, combined with the presence of mineral springs, make it the healthiest in all of Bulgaria. This centre is considered one of the best treatment centres in Europe for bronchial asthma. There are hydrocarbonate-sodium-sulphate, hyperthermal and fluoride mineral springs here. People come to this sanatorium to treat skin inflammations, kidney diseases, colitis and gastritis, degenerative inflammatory processes in the joints, as well as respiratory diseases.

Velingrad is located 120 km southeast of Sofia in the Rhodope Mountains, 800 m above sea level. This center is home to 70 hyperthermal mineral springs, although by chemical composition they are classified as fluorine and sodium-sulphate-hydrocarbonate. The local health resorts help to eliminate arthro-rheumatic and gynecological diseases, as well as diseases of the respiratory system and peripheral nervous system.

The town of Hisarya is located 170 km east of Sofia (45 km from Plovdiv). It is located 364 m above sea level, next to the Rose Valley, in the middle of the Sredna Gora and Stara Planina mountain ranges. There are 22 mineral springs in this center (slightly mineralized water, its composition is sulfate-hydrocarbonate-soda with increased alkaline reaction). Such springs effectively cure kidney and liver diseases, as well as diseases of the digestive system and gall bladder. Climate conditions, water and air also have a positive effect on the body, promoting health.

Situated 230 km south of Sofia is the village of Ognyanovo (between the Pirin and Rhodope mountains). This place has a wonderful climate with beautiful nature, as well as mineral water springs with healing properties. Neurological diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, gastrointestinal and excretory diseases, and metabolic disorders are effectively treated here.

Medical and health tourism in Indonesia

Medical tourism in Indonesia consists of climatotherapy as well as massage treatments using various medicinal herbs.

Medical and health tourism in Canada

Health tourism in Canada is a resort holiday in places that are famous for their healing climate, various types of healing procedures, as well as excellent infrastructure and wonderful nature.

At Canadian resorts, problems with metabolism, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders are usually treated. Also, in these centers, you can undergo rejuvenation procedures, strengthen your immune system and general health, and even perform body shaping.

Development of medical tourism in Kazakhstan

The development of health tourism in Kazakhstan was based on the location of mineral springs and healing mud.

The most popular balneological center in the country is Saryagash, which is located in the southern part of Kazakhstan. Here are located sources of mineral sodium-hydrocarbonate waters that help treat gastrointestinal diseases. The infrastructure of health resorts in Saryagash is developed at the highest level. The most comfortable time to relax in this center is in May-June.

There are several balneological centers in the east of Kazakhstan. There are springs with thermal radon water (temperature is +34/+42 °C), which successfully cure musculoskeletal disorders, dermatological diseases, and problems with the central nervous system.

The Barlyk-Arasan health center is located near Lake Alakol. There are 12 thermal springs in this area (some springs reach temperatures of +43°C). In addition to treatment with the help of healing springs, oriental medicine methods are used here, which use antlers (horns) of deer, marals and red deer.

The Arasan-Kapal health center is located on the border of two regions – East Kazakhstan and Almaty. There are chloride-sodium-sulphate radioactive sources of weak concentration here. They help eliminate gynecological diseases and disorders of the cardiovascular system, as well as problems with metabolism.

Kazakhstan's health centers are mainly located on the shores of lakes or reservoirs, as well as in mountainous areas (Shchuchye and Borovoe lakes, Almaty suburbs, Alatau foothills). In addition to mud and healing water treatment, laser, physiotherapy, climatotherapy, balneological procedures, exercise therapy, therapeutic massage, and other methods are used here.

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Medical and health tourism centers

Medical tourism is very developed in European countries. The main centers of medical and health tourism are considered to be resorts in Central and Eastern Europe. In the countries of the former socialist camp, health resort recreation is highly developed - there are many healing natural and climatic sources that help cure a variety of diseases, conduct rehabilitation procedures and perform disease prevention.

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