title: [International trade in health services and the medical industrial complex: implications for national health systems].
abstract: Health services have increasingly proven to be an innovative sector, gaining prominence in the medical industrial complex through expansion to public and international markets. International trade can foster economic development and redirect the resources and infrastructure available for healthcare in different countries in favorable or unfavorable directions. Wherever private providers play a significant role in government-funded healthcare, GATS commitments may restrict health policy options in subscribing countries. Systematic information on the impacts of electronic health services, medical tourism, health workers' migration, and foreign direct investment is needed on a case-by-case basis to build evidence for informed decision-making, so as to maximize opportunities and minimize risks of GATS commitments.
authors.affiliation: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. angelicabsantos@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Angelica Borges dos
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Sonia Regina Lambert
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Passos
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics*; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000191:economics*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D007391:International Cooperation; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector