AUTHOR=Wang Ran , Geng Songtao 

TITLE=Achieving sustainable medical tourism: unpacking privacy concerns through a tripartite game theoretic lens

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1347231

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1347231

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=This study delves into the privacy issues in medical tourism through a tripartite game theoretic perspective. Utilizing an evolutionary game model, two primary stable strategies were identified, of which E6(1,0,1) is discerned as the optimal strategy for ensuring the privacy of medical tourists. This strategy encapsulates "active protection" by medical institutions, "forgo accountability" by the tourists, and "strict supervision" by government departments. The stability of the system's evolutionary strategy is primarily influenced by the intensity of government penalties, subsidies, incentives, and the compensation measures of medical institutions. Medical institutions exhibit decisiveness and rapidity in their decision-making, while medical tourists' decisions are characterized by learning and conformity. Governmental strategy selection remains consistent. Increased subsidies and penalties from governmental agencies can drive medical institutions towards adopting proactive and stable strategies to safeguard the privacy of medical tourists. In conclusion, recommendations are put forth to foster an environment conducive to medical tourism while ensuring paramount privacy protection, thereby catalyzing the sustainable growth of the medical tourism industry.