Premium
Assessing trade in health services in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean from a public health perspective
Author(s) -
Siddiqi Sameen,
Shennawy Azza,
Mirza Zafer,
Drager Nick,
Sabri Belgacem
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the international journal of health planning and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1099-1751
pISSN - 0749-6753
DOI - 10.1002/hpm.989
Subject(s) - public health , economic growth , tourism , workforce , business , geography , international trade , medicine , economics , nursing , archaeology
Assessing trade in health services (TiHS) in developing countries is challenging since the sources of information are diverse, information is not accessible and professionals lack grasp of issues. A multi‐country study was conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) – Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, and Yemen. The objective was to estimate the direction, volume, and value of TiHS; analyze country commitments; and assess the challenges and opportunities for health services. Trade liberalization favored an open trade regime and encouraged foreign direct investment. Consumption abroad and movement of natural persons were the two prevalent modes. Yemen and Sudan are net importers, while Jordan promotes health tourism. In 2002, Yemenis spent US$ 80 million out of pocket for treatment abroad, while Jordan generated US$ 620 million. Egypt, Pakistan, Sudan and Tunisia export health workers, while Oman relies on import and 40% of its workforce is non‐Omani. There is a general lack of coherence between Ministries of Trade and Health in formulating policies on TiHS. This is the first organized attempt to look at TiHS in the EMR. The systematic approach has helped create greater awareness, and a move towards better policy coherence in the area of trade in health services. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.