MEDICAL TOURISM IN INDIA

Medical tourism can be generally defined as provision of 'cost effective' personal health care in association with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical healthcare and other forms of dedicated treatment.

This process is being facilitated by the corporate sector concerned in health care as well as the tourism industry - both personal and public.

Offering some of the best medical treatment in the world and with an excellent reputation in its private hospitals India's health care sector has undergone an enormous boom in recent years and it has become a global health destination, with its medical tourism area growing by 30 per cent each year. With the developed countries finding themselves over-burdened with the task of providing cost effective healthcare, India has emerged as a popular global health tourism destination.

India's private hospitals offer highly sophisticated and specialized medical services at very affordable prices, and a growing trend has emerged for patients from the UK to consider India for their private healthcare. India has one of the largest pharmaceutical industries in the world. It is self sufficient in drug production and exports drugs to more than 180 countries.

In fact, Indian doctors are considered to be among the best in the world and their high level of surgical expertise evolves by many years of training - after studying in India many doctors train and work in many developed countries. Interestingly apart from the specific health care issues Indian approach is a holistic approach. India is well known for alternative therapies and post treatment travel destinations.

India offers services in -

1. Bone Marrow Transplant

2. Cardiac Care

3. Cosmetic Surgery package 

4. Dialysis and Kidney Transplant package 

5. Orthopaedic surgery

6. Joint Replacement Surgery package etc.

Some characteristics:

a) India offers speciality & super-speciality treatments at 5-10 times less cost as compared to US & UK, despite providing world class quality treatment.

b) India offers highly advanced medical treatments not available in Middle East, Africa & SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh) at cost effective prices. 

c) India offers best mix of Western & Eastern health care systems. Besides Allopathic treatment, India offers various traditional treatment options like Ayurveda & Homeopathy.

d) India has become Medical Tourism capital of the modern world. Medical Tourism is expected to generate revenue of US $ 350 million by 2013 in India. 

e) Medical Tourism in India is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 37 per cent from 2009-2012. 

f) Highly skilled medical fraternity, low treatment costs, cutting edge technological advancements & rich cultural heritage have made India the most sought after Medical Tourism destination.