Medical outsourcing
Topic: Tertiary, Quaternary and Quinary Activities · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 6 "Tertiary and Quaternary Activities"
Meaning
Medical outsourcing means sending medical tests, and the reading of their results, to hospitals in other countries. Images such as X-rays, MRIs and ultrasound scans are sent over the internet. Doctors abroad study them and send back a report. Reading scans from a distance like this is called teleradiology. NCERT says hospitals in India, Switzerland and Australia do this work. NCERT also says it helps patients if it improves quality or gives specialised care. Concerns include the privacy of patient data and the licensing of doctors across borders.
Example
A hospital abroad sends a patient's MRI scan to a hospital in India. A radiologist in India reads it and sends back the report.
Don't confuse with
- Medical tourism: here the patient travels to another country for treatment. In medical outsourcing the patient stays at home, and only the test data travels.