Stem Cell Transplantation and Medical Tourism at Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:Medical tourists select to travel across international borders to receive various kinds of medical treatment. The quality and availability of the service also affects the behaviorof medical tourism, as well as economic and cultural factors. Many countries started to investigate the ways to benefit from the opportunities provided by the medical tourism. In our country, health tourism patients are generally treated in private hospitals. The acceptance ofhealth tourism patients in public hospitals will contribute to the national economy. The aim of this study is to draw attention to the health tourism potential of bone marrow transplantation of our hematology clinic.METHODS:Quantitative analysis of bonemarrow transplants performed in Ankara Oncology Hospital between2009-2019underthescopeofhealthtourismandbilateralagreementwasperformed.RESULTS:In the last decade, 33 patients underwent autologous transplantation and 37 patients underwent allogenic bone marrow transplantation in our clinic.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:Health tourism in experienced bone marrow transplant centers can contribute to the country's economy by attracting patients from countries in the nearby geography.