Medical Tourism among Afghan Patient Population: Assessment of their Perception and Expectation of Healthcare Services across the Border of Afghanistan

Ahmad Khan, Tracey Matthews

AT Still Health Sciences University

The Afghan healthcare system lacks sufficient resources to meet the expectations and perceptions of the Afghan patient population in various domains of service quality, including tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, and empathy. As a result, many Afghan patients travel outside of Afghanistan for different types of healthcare services. Investigating the perceptions and experiences of Afghan medical tourists is crucial for identifying gaps in local healthcare services. Purpose: The study investigated Afghan patients' perceptions and expectations of healthcare received across the border of Afghanistan, exploring their perceptions and expectations on five domains of service quality. Methodology: A service quality questionnaire was used to collect data from 28 Afghan patients with treatment experience outside Afghanistan, assessing their perceptions and expectations of healthcare services. Significance of the Study: Assessing and understanding the perspectives of Afghan medical tourists on healthcare services outside Afghanistan will inform local authorities about gaps in healthcare services, improve service delivery, and reduce patient outflow. Enhanced local healthcare can better meet the needs and expectations of Afghan patients, helping to avoid unnecessary medical tourism. Results: The wilcoxon signed ranks test assessed significant discrepancies between participants' perceptions and expectations in tangibility, assurance, empathy, reliability, and responsiveness, with perceptions generally exceeding expectations in assurance (p-value 0.004), tangibility (p-value <0.001), and responsiveness (p-value <0.001). No significant differences were noted in reliability (p-value 0.836) and empathy (p-value 0.391). Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the need in Afghanistan to address gaps in healthcare quality and services, thereby meeting patient expectations and ultimately enhancing the healthcare experience for the Afghan patient population, thereby reducing reliance on medical tourism outside Afghanistan.

Article link: https://www.asianinstituteofresearch.org/JHMSarchives/medical-tourism-among-afghan-patient-population%3A-assessment-of-their-perception-and-expectation-of-healthcare-services-across-the-border-of-afghanistan