Medical Tourism and Antiretrovirals for HIV/AIDS: Assessing the Market Demands in Jamaica

What is Medical Tourism?

Medical tourism is the practice of travelling outside of one's home country to receive quality healthcare at affordable prices.  

Why Should I Care About Medical Tourism? 

As healthcare costs continue to increase, more Americans are being priced out of the market for treatment.  As a result, it is an emerging phenomenon in the healthcare industry although it is currently a niche market.  This is especially valid for individuals who suffer from chronic diseases. 

Is Medical Tourism Safe?

The safety and quality of care available in many offshore settings is no longer an issue: Organizations including the Joint Commission International and others are accrediting these facilities.

But I Saw So Many Botched Surgeries and Things! Will Medical Tourism Decrease?

Studies have shown that outbound medical tourism is expected to experience explosive growth over the next five years.

So You Did a Project - For What and Why?

This project was completed as my practicum for completion of my Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree from an accredited institution in the United States.  The practicum is one of the requirements for the completion of the MPH degree.

Normally, I Hear About Medical Tourism for Plastic Surgery in Thailand - Not HIV/AIDS in Jamaica.  Why Did You Choose This Specific Topic?

I chose to focus on this aspect because my practicum consisted of gathering proprietary data.  My specific interest was to collect data that would influence and impact policies that promote medical tourism in selected countries.  During my research, I often spoke with administrators, providers and other healthcare workers.  Many of them briefly mentioned the issue of HIV/AIDS which sparked my curiosity.

What Are the Gaps in Knowledge That Justify Your Study?

Recent studies have revealed that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretrovirals (ART) can reduce HIV acquisition.

While these results are promising, many questions remain regarding their use in clinical practice such as the cost, development of HIV drug resistance, and provider willingness to prescribe.  Currently, there are limited data on healthcare providers’ willingness prescribing antiretrovirals for prevention in Jamaica.

What Were Your Objectives?

• To assess the current knowledge and awareness of PrEP and PEP.
• To assess Jamaican internal medicine residents’ willingness to prescribe PrEP as a method of HIV prevention in high-risk populations.
• To determine specific concerns or barriers that would prevent internal medicine residents from discussing or prescribing PrEP to high-risk populations.

Ok, Hurry Up and Just Tell Me the Conclusions (and Policy Implications)!

•Many of the respondents have heard of PEP but not PrEP.  

•Knowledge of both PEP and PrEP are low, especially for PrEP.

•Those who have heard about PrEP have heard it through talking with their colleagues or a medical lecture.

•The willingness to prescribe is highly contingent upon the scenario.

•The biggest concern for prescribing ART, PEP, and or PrEP were the issues of affordability and feasibility.

•For medical tourism to flourish within Jamaica, the providers must be able to meet the demands of its clients.

•Jamaica must denote additional funding resources for HIV education and resources.

•Practitioners should be encouraged to rely on scientific findings rather than medical gossip or other popular trends.    
This can be accomplished in that continuing education and or lectures be incentivized.

Can I See The Poster?
Of course!  I have it here as a Google Doc.  Enjoy!