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Medical
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Rahul
Dravid pitches for Pak tourists "...Of course,
for many in Pakistan, Bangalore is not a new territory.
"The advertisement is basically an invitation for
the people to Rahul's home, that's Bangalore —
a cool and comfortable place. The same Bangalore that
played second home to little Noor Fathima. The objective
is to highlight health tourism advantages in Bangalore,"
he said...." - Times
of India
Promoting
Health And Medical Tourism In India: Health
and medical tourism is perceived as one of the fastest
growing segments in marketing ‘Destination India’
today. While this area has so far been relatively unexplored,
we now find that not only the ministry of tourism, government
of India, but also the various state tourism boards
and even the private sector consisting of travel agents,
tour operators, hotel companies and other accommodation
providers are all eying health and medical tourism as
a segment with tremendous potential for future growth.
-
Express Travel & Tourism
Medical
tourism, the next big wave: CII ‘Medical
tourism’ can contribute Rs 5,000-10,000 crore additional
revenue for upmarket tertiary hospitals by 2012, according
to a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-McKinsey
joint study. -
The Economic Times
Medical
tourism, the next big wave: - India
can attract 1m health tourists
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India will
with no doubt become the global health destination.
It aims to replicate the Thai model, which is still
the first Asian destination for International Patients.
With prices
at a fraction (sometimes only 1/10th!) of
those in the US
or EU, the concept has
broad consumer appeal – if people can overcome
their prejudices about health care in developing countries
The reality is that Indian private facilities offer advanced
technology and high-quality procedures on par with
hospitals in developed nations.
India
is the leading country promoting medical tourism in
the world. It is even moving into a new area of "medical
outsourcing" where subcontractors aim to provide services
to the overburdened medical care systems in western countries.
Medical tourism to
India is growing by 30% a year and the Indian
education system is churning out an estimated 20,000 to 30,000
doctors and nurses each year.
India benefits
from a large staff of world class experts and the
ultra-competitive cost advantage it offers. While a heart
surgery costs $30,000 in the US, it costs $6,000 in
India. Similarly, a bone marrow transplant costs $26,000
here compared to $250,000 in the US. You can add to this that
Indian doctors are among the best
in the world.
Howard Staab, a 53-year-old carpenter-contractor from
North Carolina, was diagnosed last year with a serious
heart condition. Mr. Stabb's doctor recommended surgery
as soon as possible. But he had no health insurance.
The
estimate for hospital care alone was nearly $100,000.
The cost for the surgeon, the cardiologist, the anesthesiologist,
the radiologist, and the pathologist, along with the cost
of a heart valve and prescription drugs, has brought the total
up to a staggering $200,000 - assuming no complications.
Howard Staab did some research and decided to go to Escorts
Hospital in New Delhi, where the estimated cost was
under $10,000, including airfare, surgery, and rehabilitation!
Howard Staab said, "I was apprehensive in the beginning
because I had no experience with India or about the quality
of care, and the situation there. But my experience was
superb. From the time we arrived at the airport, Escorts
(Hospital) people escorted us to the hospital, gave us excellent
care. The surgeons and all the staff were extremely professional,
kind and caring. Everything went very well and I was so
satisfied and impressed with the care".
Most
non-urgent Western patients usually get a package
deal that includes flights, transfers, hotels, treatment
and often a post-operative vacation. There are many
brokers specialized on the Indian market.
Medical
tourists are also increasingly coming as well for the renewal
of Indian traditional medicine
such as yoga, ayurveda and meditation and combine this
with the western treatments they receive during their stay.
In Mumbai
(Maharashtra), as in New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore,
Chennai and Hyderabad, private sector healthcare
centres are giving birth to veritable "islands of
excellence":
Kerala
Kerala,
a pioneer state in India,
offers a wide array of treatments and
medications. Extremely good facilities are available here
in the traditional forms of medicine as well as in modern
medical treatment and is quickly becoming an international
destination, with brand new spas and resorts.
It is is the one and only resort
in the country where a guest can have a complete range
of pathological tests, dental treatment, electro -cardiograms,
stress tests, X-rays, and even sonography tests.
There is even a mini-operation theatre for cosmetic surgery
performed by world renowned surgeons in the field.
Maharashtra
The state
of Maharashtra is another gateway
to India, with unlimited
potential to develop medical tourism.
The Asian Heart Institute at Bandra-Kurla Complex offers state-of-the
art facilities for all types of heart complications
and even offers preventive cardiological treatment
to avoid heart ailments and also to keep under control a host
of heart problems. This institute is in collaboration with
the Cleveland Institute, USA
and offers high-quality services at reasonable prices.
The average price of private heart surgery in the West
is $50,000. In Bombay it can be done for $10,000. The same
ratio applies to joint replacement, neurosurgery and cancer
treatment.
The Apollo Hospitals Group
The Apollo
Hospitals Group, which hospitals are located in Located
at Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Madurai, is today recognized
as the "Architect of Healthcare" in India.
Its history of accomplishments, with its unique ability of
resource management and able deployment of technology and
knowledge to the service of its patients, justifies its recognition
in India and abroad. Their mission is "to bring healthcare
of international standards within the reach of every individual".
****
More generally,
one could say that Indian corporate hospitals excel in cardiology
and cardiothoracic surgery, joint replacement, orthopedic
surgery, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, transplants and
urology to name a few. The various specialties covered
are Neurology, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Rheumatology,
Endocrinology, ENT, Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric
Neurology, Urology, Nephrology, Dermatology, Dentistry, Plastic
Surgery, Gynecology, Pulmonology, Psychiatry, General Medicine
& General Surgery.
The various
facilities in India include full body pathology, comprehensive
physical and gynecological examinations, dental checkup, eye
checkup, diet consultation, audiometry, spirometry, stress
& lifestyle management, pap smear, digital Chest X-ray,
12 lead ECG, 2D echo colour doppler, gold standard DXA bone
densitometry, body fat analysis, coronary risk markers, cancer
risk markers, carotid colour doppler, spiral CT scan and
high strength MRI, each test being carried out by professional
M.D. physicians.
There
is also a huge range of services ranging from General Radiography,
Ultra Sonography, Mammography to high end services like
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Digital Subtraction Angiography
along with intervention procedures, Nuclear Imaging.
The diagnostic facilities offered in India are comprehensive
to include Laboratory services, Imaging, Cardiology, Neurology
and Pulmonology. The Laboratory services include biochemistry,
hematology, microbiology, serology, histopathology, transfusion
medicine and RIA. All medical investigations are conducted
on the latest, technologically advanced diagnostic equipment.
From:
http://www.medical-tourist.org/India.htm
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