Al Aamri, Amira K., Al-Busafi, Said, Al-Harthi, Hasina, Al-Harthy, Sultan, Al-Alawi, Kamila, Al-Maamari, Abeer, Al-Maniri, Abdullah, Al-Sabti, Hilal, Al-Rasadi, Khalid and Padmadas, Sabu S. (2025) Demographic data of patients travelling from public hospitals for medical treatment abroad: outbound medical tourism in the Sultanate of Oman. BMJ Public Health, 3 (2), [e002282]. (doi:10.1136/bmjph-2024-002282).
Abstract
Introduction Medical tourism is a rapidly evolving global trend, with patients from high-income countries increasingly seeking affordable, quality care in middle-income nations. Despite its growing prevalence, there is a lack of systematic, population-level research on the demographics and disease profiles of individuals seeking treatment abroad, particularly within the Gulf Cooperation Council region. We address this gap by examining the age-specific and sex-specific patterns and disease burden among Omani patients who receive medical treatment abroad, with particular emphasis on chronic and non-communicable diseases.
Methods We analysed the Department of Treatment Abroad database, maintained by the Ministry of Health in Oman, comprising records of 2364 patients referred from public hospitals for medical treatment abroad during the period 2022–2023. The analysis included 1428 patients who received treatment abroad, excluding 936 patients who obtained care within local hospitals. The analysis focused on identifying demographic patterns, disease classifications and preferred treatment destinations.
Results Of the 1428 patients treated abroad, predominantly male, 46.4% were children (0–17 years), including 11% who were infants (0–1 year), and 10% were aged 60 years or older. Most children had ophthalmological, haematological, neurological and orthopaedic conditions, while epilepsy was prevalent among young people and adults. Liver cirrhosis was the most common diagnosis for middle-aged and older-adult males. Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer were the most common diseases in older adults. Liver transplant ranked the topmost medical procedure for treatment abroad, followed by bone marrow transplant, penetrating keratoplasty surgery and retinoblastoma. India was the primary destination for treatment abroad (82%), followed by Turkey (14%), Thailand (0.9%) and the UAE (0.8%).
Conclusions Our study highlights the need for targeted health policy interventions in Oman that address financial and systemic barriers driving outbound medical travel. Strengthening local healthcare for chronic and non-communicable diseases, especially for children, is crucial to reduce reliance on medical tourism and ensure equitable care.
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