Turismo de saúde : um estudo comparativo

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the Apollo Group of Hospitals, which is considered a worldwide reference for medical tourism, to the Brazilian south's enterprises Hotel and Spa Recanto das Águas and Itá Thermas Resort and Spa, for they have an especific department dedicated to life quality and well being. The research was comparative, of exploratory and descriptive nature, with a qualitative edge. Therefore units of meaning for definition of categories of analisys were elected, which allowed it to determine how much these variables grow farther or closer from the Indian model, considered ideal, taking under consideration the fact that India and Brazil are in different cultural, economic, social and politic levels. They are: a) excellency in the medical areas, b) hospitalar hotels, c) surroundings. In this study the bibliographic and documental researches were engaged, and intervews and observations made in person. The analyzed documents were bibliographic and relevant, contents published in oficial governamental Indian sites and themes around the reality of the Apollo Hospitals on its own site on the net, as well as archives required for appreciation. The interviews were made with the managers of Brazilian enterprises, objects of this study. The observations in person happened in the Hotel and Spa Recanto das Águas and in the Itá Thermas Resort and Spa. The results prove that Brazil already has enough built range, geographic and human resourses for the medical tourism to be enrooted according to the Indian models, as long as the social, cultural, political and economic factors of this country are respected.