Strict oversight can ensure overseas medical tourism not hotbed of fraud

Six people are on trial in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, for operating a medical tourism scam targeting wealthy Chinese. Guangming Daily comments:

The defendants organized tours to Dubai for more than 1,000 people from across the country, who were invited to have "medical consultations" after which they paid a total of 650 million yuan ($97 million) for so-called anti-cancer treatments and medicines, which turned out to be commonplace physiotherapy and cheap health products.

The scam, which remained unchanged for months, was not that complicated, but it proved to be highly effective in duping the victims into paying for their belief in foreign countries' "advanced" medical systems.

The fraudsters assumed the Chinese public security department would not bother to look into a case involving foreign medical institutes and companies, with which they conspired to carry out the scam.

It is estimated that each year about 1 million Chinese people go overseas for physical examinations and medical treatment.

The frequent occurrence of medical tourism fraud cases is related to the rising demand for overseas medical tourism in recent years.

Although overseas medical tourism has been targeted by criminals, it is not necessary to deny the medical tourism service industry itself.

Still, the legislature, public security, public health and tourism administrations need to roll out laws and rules to put the fast growing market under effective supervision and regulation as soon as possible.

That the public security authority has demonstrated its resolve and ability of cracking such fraud crimes involving foreign partners should act as a deterrent to others thinking of trying to trick people in this way.

Meanwhile, consumers should beware of the potential risks and loopholes in their medical tourism contracts. The primary motivation driving the tourism companies to the emerging market is profit, not to keep people healthy.