A Systematic Review of Medical Tourism Supply Chain: Current Status and Future Directions

Abstract

There has been a significant surge in consumers seeking health care abroad, leading to a highly competitive tourism market with substantial profit margins. This systematic review aims to shed light on the medical tourism supply chain (MTSC) literature. Following the PRISMA, we systematically searched for the term “medical tourism supply chain” in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and EBSCO. The search was conducted between April and July 2023. Non-English articles and conference proceedings were excluded. Ultimately, 16 studies were deemed suitable for inclusion. The MTSC encompasses three fundamental elements: supply-demand, customer, and supplier management. Trust, cooperation, commitment, and coordination have emerged as critical factors in effective supplier management. Supply-demand management emphasizes human resources, accommodation, and transfer capacity. Lastly, customer relationship management underscores the significance of understanding tourists' intentions and expectations. Despite the vital role of MTSC, the number of published studies still needs to be improved.

Keywords

• medical tourism
• supply chain
• critical success factors
• PRISMA

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