Medical tourism sluggish business

Although the market for medical tourism still is small, a few South Carolina businesses are ready to send patients abroad. Columbia-based Companion Global Healthcare formed in 2007 and nearly doubled its overseas facilities when it added three hospitals in Singapore to its international network. To date, however, the company has had only three patients, including President and Chief Operating Officer David Boucher. In addition, all BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina members have access to care abroad through Companion.