Medical tourism has a long history: all ancient states had hot springs where representatives of the aristocracy were treated and improved their health. We see similar practices in the Middle Ages and in other periods of human society development. Currently, medical tourism is gaining not only mass importance, but also various directions. Today, medical tourism can become one of the promising and profitable areas of healthcare. The purpose of the study is to identify the negative and positive factors of medical tourism in Russia and in the Sverdlovsk region in particular. Materials and methods. The materials of scientific articles and statistical information on the stated topic served as the basis. Results. The author’s research has shown that despite a number of disadvantages, medical tourism in Russia and in the Sverdlovsk region in particular has all the prerequisites for its development and can become one of the profitable sectors of the national economy.