Medical Tourism in Romania. The Case Study of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation in Covasna
Author:Roxana Oana Darabont, Paul Suceveanu, Mihaela Suceveanu and Clara Alexandra Volintiru
JEL:C46, I11, L83
DOI:
Keywords:medical tourism, cardiovascular diseases, CO2 hydrotherapy
Abstract:
Romania has one of the highest mortality rates in Europe for ischemic heart disease and,
especially, for cerebrovascular disease. Taking into account the actual prevalence of
cardiovascular diseases, an augmentation of the demand for specialized medical services is
expected. As this paper argues, this situation can have an important impact on medical
tourism. We analyze original data on the case study of a hospital, specialized in
cardiovascular treatment, in the Romanian county of Covasna, which is offering specific
balneal procedures, such as CO2 .hydrotherapy, alongside regular rehabilitation programs.
The aim of our study is to evaluate the demographic characteristics, and the pathology of
the hospitalized patients, as well as the specific rehabilitation procedures. Our findings
suggest that the interest of patients, with cardiovascular diseases, for medical tourism can
be influenced by accessibility, by some particularities of the location, but also by the
holistic nature of the rehabilitation procedures.