For a Ugandan family, travelling to India, Turkey or another country for specialised medical treatment is more than a health decision. It can mean raising money for air tickets, accommodation, treatment and the expenses of relatives who accompany the patient.
For the country, however, every such journey also means money leaving the economy.
The reverse is possible. A patient from South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda or another country can travel to Uganda, spend money on treatment, accommodation, transport and other services, turning a medical need into an export opportunity.