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Tourists
from around the world are beginning to realize the potential
of modern and traditional Indian medicine. Indian hospitals
and medical establishments have also realized the potential
of this niche market and have begun to tailor their services
for foreign visitors. At a regional geo-political level, this
nascent industry came to limelight with the arrival of 'Naby
Noor' from Pakistan, who came by the Indo-Pak bus service
and got a red-carpet treatment at hospital in Bangalore. Several
Indian state governments have realized the potential of this
'industry' and have been actively promoting it. Visitors,
especially from the west and the middle-east find Indian hospitals
a very affordable and viable option to grappling with insurance
and National medical systems in their native lands. Many prefer
to combine their treatments with a visit to the 'exotic east'
with their families, killing two birds with one stone. For
further details on Indian Medical tourism Industry, click
here. You
may also visit our health sections at Ayurveda,
or Yoga or
the Sitemap
Health
Tourism
Author: Rai Monica
India
is turning out to be a top destination for patients and travellers
worldwide. With its state of the art hospitals and highly
quailified UK-US trained doctors, it will soon transform into
the worldwide medical hub
Medical
tourism is a term coined which covers patients travelling
across the globe for tourism purposes clubbing their requirements
for treatment of acute illness, elective surgeries such as
cardiology, hip replacement, knee replacement,etc. The Government
is taking serious initiatives in this regards and plans to
start overseas marketing of India as a medical tourism destination.
The government of India is of the opinion that by marketing
India as a global medical tourism destination, it could capitalise
on the low-cost, high-quality medical care available in the
country.
India,
touted as one of the favourite destinations for information
technology majors, is currently emerging as the chosen destination
for medical or health tourism. The Government of India, State
tourism boards, travel agents, tour operators, hotel companies
and private sector hospitals are exploring the medical tourism
industry for tremendous opportunities. They are seeking to
capitalise on the opportunities by combining the country's
popular leisure tourism with medical tourism.
Industry
projections'
Statistics
estimate that the medical tourism industry in India is currently
worth $333 million (Rs 1,500 crore) while a study by CII-McKinsey
estimates that the country could well earn Rs 5,000-10,000
crore by the year 2012.
The Indian
medical tourism industry, growing at an annualised rate of
30 percent, caters to patients chiefly from the US, Europe
and Africa. Although in its nascent stage, the industry is
outpacing similar industries of other
countries such as Greece, South Africa, Jordan, Malaysia,
Philippines and Singapore. In the year 2004, Approx 1,50,000
medical tourists have visited India.
What
makes it so attractive?
Primary
is the cost factor. The medical costs in India are a fraction
of the costs in the US/Europe. For instance, a heart surgery
costs $6,000 in India as against $30,000 in the US. Similarly,
a bone marrow transplant costs
$26,000 in India as compared to $2,50,000 in the US. Foreign
patients throng Indian hospitals to pass up the long waiting
lists and queues in their native countries. The NHS patients
in UK have to wait for months for Hip/Knee replacements surgery.
Indian hospitals provide immediate attention to patients rather
than asking them to wait for several months like in most western
countries.
India's
top notch private hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Max HealthCare
have gained international recognition for their state-of-the-art
facilities and diagnostic centres besides unsurpassed technical
skills. Their technology
and procedures are state of the art and on par with hospitals
in developed nations.Foreign patients can get attractive package
deals including flights, transfers, hotels, treatment and
post-operative vacation for their medical visits to India.
India has some world class SPAs and Ayurvedic facilities which
help recuperation and healing.
Some Top
India Hospitals Include Apollo, Fortis, Max Healthcare, Escorts,
AIIMs, Wockhardt, etc.
Some top
Medical tourism providers are Taj Medical, India4health, Mediescapes
and Indiaheals. [For a more comprehensive listing, visit GaramChai.com
Medical
Tourism]
With time
more and more visitors will flock to this part of the globe
for their treatment and relaxtion needs.
Author:
Monica Rai
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