I have been here before.

A new global industry that appeared out of nowhere, offers great advantages to consumers, generates countless articles, is the subject for many conferences, offers opportunities for new entrants, generates an industry of self-styled experts and consultants, is hyped as offering huge volumes and incomes, crosses borders, changes the world for ever, offers the insurance world a way to solve problems on cost, and sometimes regards those who offer a more rational analysis as unbelievers who should be cast out.

Perhaps you may think that I am talking about medical tourism.

Medical Tourism Association announces Medical Tourism Healthcare Leaders Awards to be presented to organizations and individuals, in presence of world leaders and government representatives from over 60 countries during World's Biggest Global Healthcare and Medical Tourism Congress, taking place this September 22 - 24 in Los Angeles, www.MedicalTourismCongress.com.

Explaining the notion behind award program, Renee-Marie Stephano, President of Medical Tourism Association said, "It's a strategic initiative which will work as a stimulator to eventually bring positive results for the medical tourism industry, intended to encourage and promote quality and best practices by industry players, whilst keeping consumer benefits in mind."

Someone you love seems different all of a sudden. They're sad all the time. They may even be clinically depressed. What do you do to help this person?

Your first reaction is to run to the doctor. And his first response may be antidepressants. After all, US doctors wrote 189 million prescriptions for antidepressants in 2005 alone.

But here's the really depressing news: antidepressants don't work. What's even worse.the drug makers and the FDA have duped us into thinking that they do.

Constantine Constantinides from HealthCare Cybernetics looks at the reasons why some businesses attracted to the medical tourism sector by forecasts of “explosive growth” have missed out on success, and how they have failed to understand the realities of the international medical travel sector.

When it comes to medical tourism, the internet and the media in general report stories of (purported) business success, but remain silent when it comes to the reporting of failures. Of course, when one only measures the number of business successes, whilst ignoring the corresponding number of “trials and failures” (or “mere survivors”), it is not surprising to conclude that successfully exploiting the market is simply a matter of hanging up your “Open for Business” sign.

At Treatment Abroad, we’ve recently completed some research into the medical tourism market for a third party. It’s been an interesting exercise and has really made us question some of the statistics that are quoted (and that often become accepted truth) about the number of medical tourists and the value of the market.

What is a medical tourist?

The first challenge in estimating market size is to be very clear about what a medical tourist actually is. He or she isn’t a tourist. It’s someone whose specific reason for travelling to another country is for medical treatment. It’s not someone who happens to fall ill and requires treatment when they are on holiday/vacation.