Globalising Medical Services: Operational Modes in the Internationalisation of Medical Service Firms

Despite the growing importance of services in the world economy, the international trade in such services, and in professional services in particular, has not come under extensive empirical evaluation. This is especially so in the case of medical services, in which there have been few studies of the effects of internationalisation. Globalisation of the medical service business is a relatively new phenomenon, but medical service providers are expanding their operations, including expansion into foreign markets. The present paper explores the operational modes of internationalisation among medical service firms. Based on empirical study, three operational modes in the internationalisation of medical service firms are outlined.