AI-Driven Medical Tourism Governance

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming medical tourism by reshaping cross-border healthcare delivery, coordination, and governance. While AI-driven medical tourism enhances economic efficiency through improved diagnostics, resource optimization, and patient coordination, it also raises significant challenges related to equity, accountability, and regulatory oversight. This chapter examines AI-enabled medical tourism through the lenses of health economics, global health governance, and ethical AI regulation, drawing on comparative evidence from India, Thailand, and Malta. The analysis shows that AI-driven efficiency gains are unevenly distributed and often accompanied by equity risks, opportunity costs, and accountability gaps, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. To address these challenges, the chapter proposes the Efficiency–Equity–Accountability (EEA) governance model, offering a structured framework to balance economic value creation with social justice, institutional responsibility, and sustainable digital health mobility aligned with global health goals.