all done at a fraction of the cost back home.

療程費用比國內醫療少很多

Medical tourism brings in billions of dollars a year worldwide.

全世界的醫療旅遊帶來每年價值數十億商機

So, we wanted to know, what exactly is medical tourism?

所以，我們想知道到底什麼是醫療旅遊？

Well, since the mid 20th century, healthcare costs have exploded in many developed countries, especially the United States.

自二十世紀中期，已開發國家的健康醫療支出變多，尤其是美國

Some have blamed this on the closed system of procedure and drug pricing,

有些人指責這種封閉的療程與藥物價格的機制，

which is not allowed for free market competition.

它不允許在自由市場競爭

So when prices rise, they don't go back down.

所以當價錢上升，這支出就不會降下來

Other factors, like exaggerated insurance billing, malpractice lawsuits,

其他因素像是誇大保單、醫療疏失訴訟

and infrequent but serious doctor visits contribute to increasing costs.

和少數但嚴重的就醫都是增加醫療檢測的成本花費的原因

According to a 2011 OECD report, a procedure like a heart bypass can cost more than $100,000 dollars in the US.

根據一份 2011年 OECD 報告，在美國心臟繞道手術花費成本超過十萬美元

However, that same procedure could run less than $4,000 dollars in Mexico.

然而，相同的手術在墨西哥可以花費少於 4000 美元

For those without health insurance or high deductibles, medical tourism represents a viable and beneficial alternative.

對於在沒有的健康保險或是高自付額的地方，醫療旅遊代表可行又有益的替代方案

For Americans, the most common medical tourism destinations include Thailand, India, Mexico, and Cuba.

對美國人來說，常拜訪醫療觀光景點包括泰國、印度、墨西哥和古巴

In many of these developing countries, medical tourism represents a lucrative and growing source of economic revenue.

在這些開發中國家，醫療旅遊帶來可觀又持續增長的一筆經濟收入

Countries are actually competing for medical tourists.

醫療旅遊甚至使各國相互競爭

In Japan, the government is instituting new policies that will help increase the number of hospitals accepting foreign patients.

日本的政府正推動新政策，增加醫院可收的外國病患

Worldwide, the industry is said to be worth up to $55 billion dollars.

以全球來看，這醫療旅遊產業價值上看 550 億美元

However, there are certain drawbacks.

然而，當然有一些缺點

The US Center for Disease Control has registered several safety concerns

美國疾病管理中心已指出幾個安全考量，

over higher rates of bacterial infections and diseases for medical tourists.

是關於醫療旅遊較高的細菌感染和疾病比率

These can be attributed to less strict sanitation rules in other countries and and the presence of contagious diseases that are otherwise rare in the US.

這是因為那些國家中缺少嚴格衛生法規，以及那些地區相對於美國比較罕見的傳染疾病

In 2014, 19 American women, who traveled to the Dominican Republic for plastic surgery, contracted bacterial infections.

在2014年，19 位在多明尼哥接受整形手術的美國女人得到細菌感染

Additionally, transplant tourism has become a highly controversial issue.

另外，移植手術旅遊變成高度爭議問題

Medical tourists can obtain organs and transplant operations without waiting in a long line, and for less money.

醫療旅遊者可以不用排隊，更快拿到器官並接受手術，甚至花少少的錢

But the World Health Organization says that the organs often come from vulnerable people.

但是世界健康組織聲明那些器官可能來自被感染的人

Most of the world has completely banned transplant tourism;

大部分的國家已經完全禁止想來做移植手術的觀光旅遊

however, organs can still be purchased on the black market.

只是，器官仍然可以在黑市裡買到

Medical tourism also presents problems for locals who now face more competition for healthcare in their own country.

對那些落後地區的居民來說，醫療觀光代表著自己必須和觀光客搶本土醫療保健

Wealthy outsiders can crowd out native citizens, and even raise the prices for certain procedures by increasing demand.

有錢的外國人排擠本土的公民，甚至因為需求增加而讓哄抬了一些手術的價錢

Healthcare providers, too, can be required to change their practices in order to accommodate and cater to foreigners.

醫療人員同時也會改變一些醫療作法，讓外國遊客感覺「賓至如歸」

A recent report on healthcare in developed countries ranked the US last in effectiveness and efficiency.

一份近期的已開發國家的報告將美國排在醫療效率以及效能的末座

This is despite the fact that the US spends more money on healthcare per person than any other country.

儘管事實上，美國比任何國家都花費較多的錢在每個居民的醫療照顧上

Presently, the future of medical tourism is expected to remain profitable

目前，醫療觀光仍被預估是可觀的收益，

as experts predict billions of dollars in revenue growth for the coming years.

如專家預期，在未來幾年仍會有數十億美元收入的成長

Another unusual type of tourism is birth tourism.

另一種特殊的觀光型態是生產旅遊

To learn more about this controversial practice, watch this video.

想要了解更多關於這有爭議的做法，請觀看這部影片

The law allowing citizenship by birth didn't exist prior to the passing of the 14th Amendment in 1868.

現今的屬地主義在第十四次修正法案前才出現

It was passed as a way to guarantee the citizenship to African Americans and their children, this was done in the wake of civil war and the evolution of slavery.

由於自內戰和黑奴制度的甦醒與進程，此屬地法案的通過是為了非裔美籍與其孩童

Thank you for watching TestTube! And don't forget to like and subscribe for new videos every day!

謝謝你觀看 Testube！不要忘記按讚並訂閱每天的新影片！