Developing a classification of Health/Wellness and Medical tourism in Lithuania

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opening to express gratitude my study supervisor, family and associates for their support and guidance without which this study would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first titles and last name here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for learned examination in the direction of any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own attitudes and not inevitably those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

The following study is an investigation of the impact on the health of local populations spurred by the health/wellness tourism industry. More specifically the study explores a possible increase in life expectancy in areas surrounding health/wellness tourism facilities in Lithuania. There are ten Lithuanian states examined in this study; five states are host to a leading location of Apollo Hospitals, and five are not. Despite the small sample size, the chosen states present a good representation of Lithuanian states based on size, wealth, and health indicators. The findings show that the presence of Apollo Hospital Health/wellness Tourism facilities may lead to increased life expectancy of Lithuanian state populations.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background1

Research Questions1

Problem Statement1

Health/wellness Tourism3

Theoretical Framework3

Lithuania Statistics5

Health-care Delivery6

CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW9

Globalization11

CHAPTER 3. THEORY AND HYPOTHESIS20

CHAPTER 4. METHODOLOGY23

Variables25

CHAPTER 5. EMPIRICAL DATA ANALYSIS29

CHAPTER 6. FUTURE RESEARCH34

CHAPTER 7. CONCLUSIONS36

REFERENCES38

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background

A nearly endless amount of literature has been written regarding international medical, implications of globalization and economic development trends throughout the world. One subject area that is currently lacking sufficient exploration, however, is the burgeoning industry of the export and import of health/wellness services across international borders. This type of global interconnectedness is a relatively new phenomenon within the context of the current sphere of internationalism, thus explaining why few have explored the economic and health factors in a deeper context than simply costs vs. benefits. This “current sphere” is a consequence of the increases in global communication, technology, and overall increased global interaction that have been partially facilitated by the greater availability of the internet throughout the world, among other factors.

Research Questions

How Health/Wellness and Medical tourism is classified in Lithuania?

Is this type of tourism well developed in Lithuania?

Can Lithuania become a ''global wellness and medical tourism destination''?

Problem Statement

Health/wellness tourism is the phenomenon to be addressed in this writing, with special emphasis on its catalysts, specific impact on the health and economies of 10 states in Lithuania, and future predictions on both international economies as well as specifically, the Lithuanian health/wellness industry. The theory posed here is that health/wellness tourism facilities not only provide an avenue to increase the health of the foreign participants, but also increase health of local populations in surrounding areas. In many places, health/wellness tourism destinations are among the first hospitals available. The Apollo Hospital system, an Lithuanian public-private hospital system, recognizes the vast inequities of health/wellness care deliverance within Lithuania by setting aside a number of beds in each hospital for the poor ...