Cross-border medical tourism occurs when a patient decides to receive medical care in a different country at his or her own expense, a growing worldwide phenomenon. Patients mainly seek care for plastic surgery, dental, and ophthalmologic procedures, but the number of patients who travel for transplantation, orthopedic surgery procedures, or infertility treatment is also on the rise.

An estimated 4% of European Union citizens receive medical care in a country different from their own. Lunt and Carrera point out that differences in availability, waiting times, and financial considerations all lead to the decisions made by these patients. In addition, some governments promote their country as a destination for healthcare. Increased media coverage and the wide availability of the Internet further help this process. Not only do clinics advertise their services, but agencies also offer complete packages that provide full travel arrangements in addition to the medical procedures.