“Last few decades belonged to the Information technology but Healthcare is the buzz of this millenium.” The feature covers costs, trends, laws and the rapid growth of Medical tourism in India.
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Author: Shankari, L
Medical tourism and India
Last few decades belonged to the Information technology but Healthcare is the buzz of this millenium. India is on the verge of becoming a global healthcare destination.
Healthcare industry has spread its tentacles offering best clinical services, global hub for medical devices and has also revolutionised healthcare informatics.
Thanks to our great knowledge pool of committed and efficient doctors and paramedics, healthcare IT professionals. Medical toruism is adding feathers in the caps of our super specialists doctors, as in 2-3years about 5-6lacs foreign patients visited india for treatment.
What is Medical tourism all about?
Patients come from USA, to benefit financially. They look forward to get their treatment done in about one tenth of the cost. Patients from Canada and UK head for treatment in a foreign country to avoid long waiting queues for consultations and surgeries to be scheduled.
All major healthcare institutions are now boasting of medical tourism. The entry of corporates and private institutions has multiplied the number of patients coming to India and other Asian countries.
In India patients come from all corners of the globe. India is preferred destination for surgeries like Hip resurfacing, knee replacements, cosmetic and corrective surgeries, dental treatments, open heart surgeries amd many more.
The procedure is very simple, there is a significant uninsured population in USA. When they have to undergo any surgery, they have to bear the outrageous healthcare costs in USA. Then they are forced to think about the other options. Now the things are much easier as lot is been written and discussed in the media. They take help of any search engine on the internet and look for a preferred destination.There are tons of informative websites available. There are medical agencies, travel operators, official hospital websites which provide enough information on having medical treatment in their respective countries. An individual can register on the hospital site, send all the medical information and get medical opinion online. He can also crosscheck with his physician in USA, who can also help him to make a choice of a physician/surgeon. Once the treatment and surgeon is decided upon a person is all set to take off to his desired health destination.
The hospital and the agencies take care of the patient right from when he arrives at the airport. He has an escort who takes him to the hospital. After completing the administrative formalities, a patient gets admitted and meets his doctor. After pre operative investigations are completed the patient undergoes the surgery. Once he recuperates from his surgery, most of the times his package may also include a planned holiday either to the ayurvedic spas or one of the holiday destinations. After this planned medical holiday he returns his home country in good health.
The good news for medical tourism industry is that small sized employers in USA are also contemplating on having medical treatment abroad for its employees.Even some of the insurance companies are covering medical treatments abroad.
The medical tourism in India is growing at the rate of 25% every year and it is estimated to be a 12-15billion dollar industries in the years to come.
Apollo group of hospitals, Wockhardt Hospitals, Fortis group are some of the pioneer health institutions in India promoting medical tourism which also have have international accreditation
Cost-savings
A cosmetic surgery would cost $2000 in India and it will cost $20,000 in USA and $10000 in UK. An open heart surgery will cost around $7000 in India and a huge $2,00,000 in USA and $90000 in UK. A bone marrow transplant would cost $30000 in India but in USA it will be approximately $250000 and in UK it would be $150000.
The Indian Government looking at the expanse of the medical tourism industry has introduced the medical visa which is valid for a year and the visa facilities are provided on priority basis.
The only impediment which remains now is that the insurance companies are not willing to cover treatment in India. But looking at the positive aspects these barriers would also break in the tomes to come. Some of them are already setting up their offices in India.
With too rapid growth of medical tourism Indian health care industry is definitely SHINING!
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