Background: Medical tourism is a burgeoning industry in our region. It involves patients traveling outside of their home country for medical treatment.

Objective: This article provides an outline of the current research around medical tourism, especially its impact on Australians.

Discussion: Patients are increasingly seeking a variety of medical treatments abroad, particularly those involving cosmetic surgery and dental treatment, often in countries in South-East Asia. Adverse events may occur during medical treatment abroad, which raises medico-legal and insurance issues, as well as concerns regarding follow-up of patients. General practitioners need to be prepared to offer advice, including travel health advice, to patients seeking medical treatment abroad.