History

Medical Tourism defined as traveling over distances to receive health care, is not a new concept. The history of medical tourism cites that even in the early times, people have been traveling to other countries for health purpose. There were the ancient Greeks and Egyptians who went to hot springs and baths to improve their health as well as the 18^th and 19^th century Europeans and Americans who travelled to healing springs and baths even in remote places in the hope to get treatment for different diseases.

The history of medical tourism dates back to its first recorded case when Greek pilgrims traveled from the Mediterranean to Epidauria a small territory in the Sardonic Gulf. It was recorded in medical tourism history that Epidauria is the original destination for medical tourism.

Saronic Gulf was the sanctuary of Asklepoins, known as the healing god. In about 600 B.C the Greeks created healing temples for Asclepius to cure numerous illnesses.

In ancient Egypt healing centers combined prayer and medicine and patients seeking relief traveled to these temples, such healing centers were called sleep temples. They healed illnesses ­through meditation, soaking in baths and sacrifices to the gods.