What's called Medical tourism or Medical travel or Healthy tourism?

It is a term
initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidlygrowing practice of traveling across international borders to obtain health care.
Patients going to a different country for either urgent or elective medical
procedures?And is fast becoming a worldwide, multibillion-dollar industry. Such
services typically include elective procedures as well as complex specialized
surgeries such as joint replacement (knee/hip), cardiac surgery, dental surgery,
and cosmetic surgeries. However, virtually every type of health care, including
psychiatry, alternative treatments, convalescent care and even burial services are
available. As a practical matter, providers and customers commonly use informal
channels of communication-connection-contract, and in such cases this tends to
mean less regulatory or legal oversight to assure quality and less formal recourse
to reimbursement or redress, if needed.
HISTORY OF MEDICAL TOURISM
Medical tourism is actually thousands of years old. In ancient Greece, pilgrims
and patients came from all over the Mediterranean to the sanctuary of the healing
god, Asklepios, at Epidaurus. In Roman Britain, patients took the waters at a
shrine at Bath, a practice that continued for 2,000 years. From the 18th century
wealthy Europeans travelled to spas from Germany to the Nile. In the 21st
century, relatively low-cost jet travel has taken the industry beyond the wealthy
and desperate. Spa towns and sanitariums may be considered an early form of
medical tourism. In eighteenth century England, for example, med trotters visited
spas because they were places with supposedly health-giving mineral waters,
treating diseases from gout to liver disorders and bronchitis.

REASON FOR MEDICAL TOURISM

The reasons patients travel for treatment vary.

Many medical tourists from the United States are seeking treatment at a

quarter or sometimes even a 10th of the COST AT HOME.

PROCEDURE

USA

Heart Bypass

INDIA (USD)

THAILAND

SINGAPORE

USD 1,00,000 USD 7,200

USD 11,000

USD 16,500

Angioplasty

USD 1,60,000 USD 7,000

USD 10,000

USD 15,000

Hip Replacement

USD 43,000

USD 7,100

USD 12,000

USD 9,200

Knee Replacement

USD 40,000

USD 8,500

USD 10,000

USD 11,000

Spine Fusion

USD 62,000

USD 7,500

USD 8,500

USD 10,000

Lap. Gastric Bypass USD 35,000

USD 9,200

USD 10,200

USD 11,500

Tummy Tuck

USD 10,000

USD 4,500

USD 5,500

USD 6,550

Dental Implant

USD 10,000

USD 1,500

USD 2,000

USD 2,400

 From Canada, it is often people who are frustrated by long waiting times.
From Great Britain, the patient can't wait for treatment by the National
Health Service but also can't afford to see a physician in private practice.

For others, becoming a medical tourist is a chance to combine a tropical

vacation with elective or plastic surgery.

And more patients are coming from poorer countries such as Bangladesh
where treatment may not be available.

PROCESS FOR MEDICAL TOURISM

The typical process is as follows:

The person seeking medical treatment abroad contacts amedical tourism
provider.
The provider usually requires the patient to provide a medical report, including
the nature of ailment, local doctors opinion, medical history, and diagnosis, and
may request additional information. Certified medical doctors or consultants then
advise on the medical treatment.
The approximate expenditure, choice of hospitals and tourist destinations, and
duration of stay, etc., is discussed.
After signing consent bonds and agreements, the patient is given recommendation
letters for a medical visa, to be procured from the concerned embassy.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

I have selected the following method to collect information for the project

Experimental

Questionnaire
Interviews
Survey

Exploratory

Internet

Magazines

Newspaper
Brochures

objetives
TO KNOW ABOUT SURGERIES ASSICIATED
WITH MEDICAL TOURISM
TO KNOW SCOPE OF MEDICAL TOURISM
IN INDIA
TO KNOW FAVAORABLE PLACES FOR
MEDICAL TOURISM
TO KNOW GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION
IN MEDICAL TOURISM

VARIOUS SURGERIES ASSOCIATED WITH

MEDICAL TOURISM
TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT
TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY
CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY
PHAROPLASTY ("EYELID SURGERY")
FACE LIFT (RHYTIDECTOMY)
RHINOPLASTY (NOSE JOB): RESHAPING OF THE NOSE

 ABDOMINOPLASTY (TUMMY TUCK) RESHAPING AND

ABDOMINOPLASTY (TUMMY TUCK) RESHAPING AND

FIRMING OF THE ABDOMEN

BREAST LIFTS (MASTOPEXY):

LASIK LASER EYE SURGERY OR KERATOMILEUSIS.
HAIR REPLACEMENT

SCOPE OF MEDICAL TOURISM IN

INDIA
INDIA
India is considered the leading country promoting medical tourism-and now it is
moving into a new area of "medical outsourcing," where subcontractors provide
services to the overburdened medical care systems in western countries.
India's National Health Policy declares that treatment of foreign patients is legally
an "export" and deemed "eligible for all fiscal incentives extended to export
earnings." Government and private sector studies in India estimate that medical
tourism could bring between $1 billion and $2 billion US into the country by
2012. The reports estimate that medical tourism to India is growing by 30 per
cent a year.
India's top-rated education system is not only churning out computer
programmers and engineers, but an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 doctors and
nurses each year.
The largest of the estimated half-dozen medical corporations in India serving
medical tourists is Apollo Hospital Enterprises, which treated an estimated
60,000 patients between 2001 and spring 2004. It is Apollo that is aggressively
moving into medical outsourcing. Apollo already provides overnight computer
services for U.S. insurance companies and hospitals as well as working with big
pharmaceutical corporations with drug trials. Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, the chairman
of the company, began negotiations in the spring of 2004 with Britain's National
Health Service to work as a subcontractor, to do operations and medical tests for
patients at a fraction of the cost in Britain for either government or private care.

Apollo's business began to grow in the 1990s, with the deregulation of the Indian
economy, which drastically cut the bureaucratic barriers to expansion and made it
easier to import the most modern medical equipment. The first patients were
Indian expatriates who returned home for treatment; major investment houses
followed with money and then patients from Europe, the Middle East and
Canada began to arrive. Apollo now has 37 hospitals, with about 7,000 beds. The
company is in partnership in hospitals in Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Nigeria.
Western patients usually get a package deal that includes flights, transfers, hotels,
treatment and often a post-operative vacation.
Apollo has also reacted to criticism by Indian politicians by expanding its services
to India's millions of poor. It has set aside free beds for those who can't afford
care, has set up a trust fund and is pioneering remote, satellite-linked
telemedicine across India.

Medical Tourism India

- Where the entire world meets for the best in Health Care
Medical Tourism in India is one of the best options available to people across the
globe. Millions come every year to get treated and then enjoy their recuperative
holidays across India. People from different walks of life cut across the entire
span of the globe come to India to have their treatments done with peace of
mind. India provides world class medical facilities with hospitals and specialized
multi specialty health centers providing their expertise in the areas of Cosmetic
Surgery, Dental care, Heart Surgeries, Coronary Bypass, Heart Check up, Valve
replacements, Knee Replacements, Eye surgeries, Indian traditional treatments
like Ayurvedic Therapies and much more, practically covering every aspect of
medicine combining modern treatments with traditional experience
India is considered the most important country promoting medical tourism.
India is one of the most touted medical tourism destinations in the world. India is
a recent entrant into medical tourism. According to a study by McKinsey and the
Confederation of Indian Industry, medical tourism in India could become a $1
billion business by 2012. The report predicts that: "By 2012, if medical tourism
were to reach 25 per cent of revenues of private up-market players, up to
2,297,794,117 USD will be added to the revenues of these players". The Indian
government predicts that India's $17-billion-a-year health-care industry could
grow 13 per cent in each of the next six years, boosted by medical tourism, which
industry

watchers

say

is

growing

at

30

per

cent

annually.

Price advantage is a major selling point. The slogan, thus is, "First World
treatment' at Third World prices". The cost differential across the board is huge:
only a tenth and sometimes even a sixteenth of the cost in the West. Open-heart
surgery could cost up to $70,000 in Britain and up to $150,000 in the US; in
India's best hospitals it could cost between $3,000 and $10,000. Knee surgery (on

both knees) costs 350,000 rupees ($7,700) in India; in Britain this costs 10,000
($16,950), more than twice as much. Dental, eye and cosmetic surgeries in
Western countries cost three to four times as much as in India.
India have a lot of hospitals offering world class treatments in nearly every
medical sector such as 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

For long promoted for its cultural and scenic beauty, India is now being put up
on international map as a heaven for those seeking quality and affordable
healthcare. Analysts say that as many as 150,000 medical tourists came to India in
2004. As Indian corporate hospitals are on par, if not better than the best
hospitals in Thailand, Singapore, etc there is scope for improvement, and the
country is becoming a preferred medical destination. In addition to the
increasingly top class medical care, a big draw for foreign patients is also the very
minimal or hardly any waitlist as is common in European or American hospitals.
Leisure Tourism is already very much in demand in India as the country offers
diverse cultural and scenic beauty. India has almost all sort of destinations like
high mountains, vast deserts, scenic beaches, historical monuments, religious
temples etc. Known for its hospitality for tourists, the county has opened doors to
welcome with the same hospitality.

FEW FACTS ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM IN INDIA

INDIA FOSTERS GROWING 'MEDICAL TOURISM' SECTOR
India is hoping to expand its tourist industry to include visitors with heart
conditions and cataracts. Indeed, medical tourism, where foreigners travel abroad
in search of low cost, world-class medical treatment, is gaining popularity in
countries like India. The field has such lucrative potential that Indian finance
minister Jaswant Singh called for India to become a global health destination.
And, with prices at a fraction of those in the US or Britain, the concept will likely
have broad consumer appeal if people can overcome their prejudices about
health care in developing countries. Though the quality of health care for the
poor in countries like India is undeniably low, private facilities offer advanced
technology and procedures on par with hospitals in developed nations. One
Indian hospital director maintains, "In a corporate hospital, once the door is
closed you could be in a hospital in America. YaleGlobal
ECONOMIST.COM | MEDICAL TOURISM TO INDIA
FOR someone about to undergo surgery to remove gallstones, David Potter, a 63year-old Briton, is remarkably chipper. Pushing a walking-frame he hardly seems
to need, he testifies to the success of an earlier operation, to replace a hip. Both
are standard surgical procedures
PROMOTING HEALTH AND MEDICAL TOURISM IN INDIA LOOKIN - EXPRESS ...

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.
INDIA DAILY MEDICAL TOURISM IN INDIA MAY BE WORTH
US$2.3 BILLION ...
With an increasing number of foreign patients flocking to India for treatment,
the country could earn Rs 100 billion (US$2.3 billion) through 'Medical
Tourism' by 2012, a study has indicated.
According to the study conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry and
McKinsey consultants, last year some 150,000 foreigners visited India for
treatment, with the number rising by 15 per cent a year.
With a large pool of highly trained doctors and low treatment cost, healthcare
aims to replicate the Indian software sector's success. Built on acres of land the
new sleek medical centres of excellence offer developed world treatment at
developing world prices.
INDIA CAN EARN $1 BILLION FROM MEDICAL TOURISM
India could earn more than $1 billion annually and create 40 million new jobs by
sub-contracting work from the British National Health Service, the head of India's
largest chain of private hospitals told rediff.com.

Houston-trained DrPrathap C Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals, also said he

was waiting for a reply to his proposal to carry out operations at a fraction of what
they would cost in the United Kingdom.
Details of the multi-million dollar package are also carried in this week's edition
of India Abroad.
They include surgery for hip and knee replacements and coronary bypass that
would slash waiting times dramatically, reducing the queues of British patients
waiting to see their doctors.
"We have well equipped, state-of-the-art hospitals and we can offer the same level
of care as anywhere else in the world," Dr Reddy said.
"There is no reason why we should not become the healthcare destination of the
world."...
CBC NEWS INDEPTH: HEALTH CARE
A worldwide market
What's called medical tourism patients going to a different country for either
urgent or elective medical procedures is fast becoming a worldwide,
multibillion-dollar industry.
The reasons patients travel for treatment vary. Many medical tourists from the
United States are seeking treatment at a quarter or sometimes even a 10th of the
cost at home. From Canada, it is often people who are frustrated by long waiting
times. From Great Britain, the patient can't wait for treatment by the National
Health Service but also can't afford to see a physician in private practice. For
others, becoming a medical tourist is a chance to combine a tropical vacation with

elective or plastic surgery.

And more patients are coming from poorer countries such as Bangladesh where
treatment may not be available.
Medical tourism is actually thousands of years old. In ancient Greece, pilgrims
and patients came from all over the Mediterranean to the sanctuary of the healing
god, Asklepios, at Epidaurus. In Roman Britain, patients took the waters at a
shrine at Bath, a practice that continued for 2,000 years. From the 18th century
wealthy Europeans travelled to spas from Germany to the Nile. In the 21st
century, relatively low-cost jet travel has taken the industry beyond the wealthy
and desperate.
Countries that actively promote medical tourism include Cuba, Costa Rica,
Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia and Thailand. Belgium,
Poland and Singapore are now entering the field. South Africa specializes in
medical safaris-visit the country for a safari, with a stopover for plastic surgery, a
nose job and a chance to see lions and elephants.

India
India is considered the leading country promoting medical tourism-and now it is
moving into a new area of "medical outsourcing," where subcontractors provide
services to the overburdened medical care systems in western countries.
India's National Health Policy declares that treatment of foreign patients is legally
an "export" and deemed "eligible for all fiscal incentives extended to export
earnings." Government and private sector studies in India estimate that medical
tourism could bring between $1 billion and $2 billion US into the country by
2012. The reports estimate that medical tourism to India is growing by 30 per

cent a year.

WHY IS INDIA MOST SUITABLE?

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 is
carried out by professional M.D. physicians, and is comprehensive yet pain-free.
There is also a gamut 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. Stringent quality assurance exercises ensure reliable and
high quality test results.
As Indian corporate hospitals are on par, if not better than the best hospitals in
Thailand, Singapore, etc there is scope for improvement, and the country may
become a preferred medical destination. In addition to the increasingly top class
medical care, a big draw for foreign patients is also the very minimal or hardly any
waitlist as is common in European or American hospitals. In fact, priority
treatment is provided today in Indian hospitals.
The Apollo Group, Escorts Hospitals in New Delhi and Jaslok Hospitals in
Mumbai are to name a few which are established names even abroad. A list of
corporate hospitals such as Global Hospitals, CARE and Dr L.V. Prasad Eye
Hospitals in Hyderabad, The Hindujas and NM Excellence in Mumbai, also
have built capabilities and are handling a steadily increasing flow of foreign
patients. India has much more expertise than say Thailand or Malaysia. The
infrastructure in some of India's hospitals is also very good. What is more
significant is that the costs are much less, almost one-third of those in other Asian
countries
Number of people having visited India for as medical tourists:
India now hosts and treats an estimated of 50,000 medical tourists a year and the
catalytic CII-McKinsey report of 2002 projected that medical tourism could
contribute up to Rs 10,000 crores in revenue by the year 2012.

RE-OPENING OF
THE TAJ AND TRIDENT
REKINDLES GROWTH OF MEDICAL TOURISM.
December 23rd, 2008
Barely a month after the terror attacks in Mumbai, the fire-scarred TAJ and
TRIDENT are open for business and stands strong ready to welcome guests to
the recuperated sections of the hotel. Guests, including foreign nationals and
medical tourists from various countries who need immediate medical care have
fearlessly chosen these hotels for stay.
Global economic freeze had encouraged several medical tourists to fly down to
India to avail quality medical treatment at a low cost. Millions of uninsured and
baby boomers in the US were left with no choice but to opt for medical tourism
for medical treatments. But the terror attacks in Mumbai On the 26th of
November seemed to have weakened the business prospects of health tourism in
India. But not for long!
The re-opening of the Taj, Trident and the Oberoi within a span of 20 days
shows the determination of the hotel owners to show the world the undying spirit
and the strength of India. The sight of localities and foreign nationals walking
into the gates of these hotels surely is an encouraging sight to the hotel owners. It
symbolized their confidence in the spirit of India to fight back terror and show
their strength amidst tough times.

State wise preparation in progress:

Karnataka is now preparing to promote premier government institutions as
medical tourism destinations. The department of Tourism with the Health and
Family Welfare department has identified centres of excellence in the
government health sector such as Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology and the
Kidwai Institute of Oncology which will be promoted abroad as places for
specialised treatment at affordable costs, said health commissioner Basavaraju.
Moreover, what is now being called the Andhra Pradesh model stems from the
provision of universal health insurance in three districts, and AP chief minister
YS Rajasekhara Reddy has called for bids in six other districts.
Thus, as DrPratap C Reddy of Apollo Hospitalsemphasised, insurance cover and
accessibility can drive change. In Aragonda, Andhra Pradesh, with a contribution
of a rupee a day a constables son was able to have a bone marrow transplantation
done at the best facility. Nobody can afford to pay for major illnesses, and we
need a mechanism to make hospital procedures cashless. That is possible only
with insurance.
After going through the above, what could be the wish list of a common man for
making medical tourism a big success for India? Some of these are summarized
below:
Let there be an identical agency like NAASCOM for medical tourism to
periodically come out realistic reports for bettering the services in the days to
come.
Why only private sector gains - why not public sector too, from the earnings of
medical tourism - a thorough study need to be done by involving the experts.

The rates charged or services offered could be further subsidized so that people
from different parts of the world throng to our hospitals for getting timely,
immediate and quality care all at an affordable cost so that at least by word of
mouth the message gets well spread across different sections of the societies.
ESI hospitals too can join this race by selectively opening up their doors so that
their income gets a big boost, which could be optimally utilised for bettering the
services from all angles benefiting the registered care seeker.
Let our foreign consulate offices act as ambassadors for promoting medical
tourism to get this business a big boost.
Let there be innovative schemes by targeting medical tourists so that they return
back with great feeling of comfort, satisfaction and joy.
MEDICAL TOURISM GROWS EXPONENTIALLY
Medical tourism is a recognized industry in the west. When Information
Technology, manufacturing and technical support jobs went eastward, nobody
even bothered to think that healthcare might take the same road somebody. But
it did. And thats good news for countries like India, Malaysia, Thailand and
Philippines.
Medical care in these Asian countries cost just one-tenth of the costs in U.S.A.
No wonder 50,000 Americans traveled abroad for medical care in 2006. Surgical
care and dental treatment top the list of health care needs of people from
America and U.K. Several of the hospitals in these countries boast state-of-the-art
facilities, skilled medical professionals and medical care on par with western
countries.
Insurance companies in the U.S.A. have started to recognize this form of medical
care in another country as a viable alternative to high-cost medical care in the

U.S. The Economic Times has a report that suggests that western insurance
companies are considering covering medical tourism, as well. If one tenth of
Americans travel abroad for treatment, the insurance companies could save
around $1.4 billion. The report recommends that companies should consider
offering SOPs like lowered premiums or added services to boost medical
tourism as it improves their bottom-line, eventually. This would again be a great
impetus for medical tourism in countries like India.

FAVOURABLE PLACE WHERE MEDICAL TOURISM EARNS

MAXIMUM REVENUE
Mediescapes India is India's first medical tourism promotion company fully
owned by Indians, run with the cooperation of Indian doctors / medical
specialists, and promoting Indian Hospitals / Clinics / Health Care System to
patients worldwide.
1) Patients are encouraged to FIRST send their medical records to our mailing
address (mentioned on the Contact Us web page) and then seek cost estimates /
duration of treatment for their respective medical conditions. All medical records
are treated as confidential by us and images of patients received (for cosmetic
procedures as well as testimonials / feedback) are never shared / disclosed by
Mediescapes India.
(2)Please note, Mediescapes India will not reply to patients enquiries whose
current medical records, including imaging films such as recent MRIs / X-Rays /
CT Scans / OPG Images for dental / front or side view for cosmetic / Bariatric
surgery etc. are not available to our consultant for evaluation. Neither will we
respond to medical enquiries without an accompanying filled-in Medical
Questionnaire (we have medical questionnaires for respective medical conditions

that have been developed by our medical consultants team and which may
require filling-in with the help of the patients family physician). The
questionnaires are meant for screening a patients case followed by evaluation of
his/her medical records by our panel of eminent medical consultants.

(3)Patients are discouraged from window-shopping for their health by sending

one-line questions to Mediescapes India such as "How much will this treatment

cost?" without transmitting their medical condition records / summary as your

medical condition needs to be screened first and then evaluated by our panel of
Board-certified eminent medical consultants practicing in JCI-Accredited / ISOCertified Hospitals of repute.
(4)Mediescapes India retains the right to charge adjustable screening fees with
medical cost estimates in advance in selected cases from patients enquiries
originating in Bangladesh / Pakistan / Afghanistan / Sri Lanka / Bhutan / Maldives
and African countries before disseminating treatment plans / medical opinions to
these countries patients and or medical enquiries originating from other selected
countries.
Information provided on this unique Medical Portal Website is for general
medical education and to let patients know what to expect during a opt -in
medical procedures in India. Such information is subject to change. Mediescapes
India. Com does not guarantee that the information is accurate or complete, and
is not responsible for any actions resulting from the use of this information.
General information provided in this fashion should not be construed as specific
medical advice or recommendation, and is not a substitute for consultation of and
physical examination by a physician. Only discussion of your individual needs
with a qualified physician will determine the best method of treatment for you.

All doctors listed on this unique Indian medical portal website are Board-certified
and are well-known surgeons / medical consultants attached to super-speciality
tertiary health care institutes / hospitals / clinics of repute in India.
SUGGESTED HOSPITALS / CLINICS
Suggested Hospitals / Clinics

Our Medical Consultants' Panel

Mediescapes India thanks the JCI /

Mediescapes

ISO accredited medical institutions of

associated Board-certified surgeons /

repute in India and overseas whose

senior medical consultants team that

association with us has made this

also helped to make this unique

unique medical portal website in India

medical

possible.

possible.

India

portal

thanks

website

in

our

India

Artificial Limbs Clinic, New Delhi

Ayurveda Treatment Physicians in

Ayurvedagram Wellness Centre,

India

Bangalore

Bone Marrow Treatment Consultant

Apollo Hospitals, Chennai

India

Bariatric Surgery Hospital, New

Bariatric Surgery Surgeons in India

Delhi

Cardio and Cardio Thoracic

Cosmetic Laser Clinic, New Delhi

Consultant India

Dental Implants Clinic, New Delhi

Cord Blood Storing and Transplant

EECP and ACT Hospital, Ludhiana

in India

Lakeshore Hospitals, Cochin

Cosmetic Surgery Consultant in India

Lifeline Hospitals, Chennai

Dermatology / Laser Consultant

MAX Healthcare Hospitals, New

India

Delhi

Dental Consultant in India

MIOT Hospitals, Chennai

ENT Consultant in India

Moolchand IVF & Women Hospital,

ECP Consultant in India

New Delhi

General Surgery Consultant in India

Madras ENT Research Foundation,

IVF Consultants in India

Chennai

Nephrology and Urology Consultant

Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore

in India

Naturopathy Centre & Spa,

Neurology Consultant in India

Saharanpur

Naturopathy Consultant in India

Vitiligo& Lipolysis Clinic, Bangalore

Nuclear Medicines Consultant in

Physiotherapy & Rehab. Clinic,

India

Mumbai

Orthopedic Consultant in India

Parkway Group Hospitals, Singapore

Ophthalmology (Eye care)

Shroff Eye Hospital, Mumbai

Consultant in India

Tushita Meditation Centre,

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dharamshala

Consultant India

TiantanPuhua Stem Cell Hospital,

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

China

Consultant

Yoga Centre, Dehradun

Pediatrics Consultant in India

Spinal Surgeon in India
Stem Cell Consultants in India
Vascular Surgery Consultant in India

INDIAN GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGES GROWTH OF MEDICAL TOURISM

SIGNIFICANCE OF GOVERNMENT IN DEVELOP MEDICAL
TOURISM
As more and more people, hospitals and patients the world over are becoming

aware of the growth and potential of Medical Tourism; governments too are
awakening to take the necessary steps required to facilitate its growth and
popularity in their respective countries.
The Indian Government is one such body which is taking productive measures
towards ensuring that this extremely lucrative opportunity may be available to the
deserving, well equipped Indian hospitals and practices.
The Government of India estimates that, on average, Indian hospitals offer
treatment for 20% of what it would cost in the United States, with even bigger
discounts available on cosmetic surgery. The cost of heart surgery in India is
$6,000 compared with $30,000 in the United States!
India has introduced a medical visa aimed at assisting overseas visitors to travel to
the country for cut-price hospital treatment. An initial visa is available for up to a
year and can be used for up to three visits during the 12-month period.

Speaking at World Travel Market, LeenaNandan, Joint Secretary to the

Government of India, Ministry of Tourism, said a task force had now been
formed to assess the benefits of actively promoting India as a medical tourism
destination. It will be looking at how we can best develop this opportunity whilst
ensuring that all hospitals involved offer a uniformly high standard of treatment.
India is also keen to promote the more leisure-based health tourism focusing on
well-being, spas and traditional therapies.
Said MsNandan: The Indian systems of medicine including Ayurveda,
Panchakarma, yoga and rejuvenation therapy are among the most ancient medical
treatments in the world.
Health tourism is already being promoted as a key selling point in Kerala where
a number of hotels feature Ayurveda centers and its a facility a lot of holiday
makers are now looking for.

Union Minister AmbikaSoni recently announced that a total investment of $6.5

billion is in the pipeline for medical tourism industry in the country and the
amount will also be used for setting up affordable hospitals and budget hotels for
patients relatives in the country. This announcement highlights the increasing
number of Indian private hospitals that are finding themselves mentioned in
travel itineries and are sought out by more and more foreigners. If industry
estimates are to be believed, the size of the medical tourism industry stands at Rs
1,200-1,500 crore (Rs 12-15 billion). The Indian healthcare market is Rs 15
billion and growing at over 30% every year.

The trend is positive and theres a great opportunity to leverage the low-cost,
high quality model that India offers. If you see around the world, theres a
problem with healthcare infrastructure everywhere. While theres a problem of
insurance cover in the US, UK and Canada have a long waiting time. These put a
lot of stress on patients and India fits the bill for its value for money expertise.
The tie-up with the Incredible India campaign and start of medical visas will go a
long way in promoting India as the best healthcare destination, says
DrAnupamSibal, group medical director, Indraprastha Apollo, New Delhi, which
has seen a steady rise in patient volumes from abroad.
The rising volume of foreign patients is also expected to provide impetus to the
tourism industry.

K B Kachru, country head, Carlson Group, highlights that the benefit to tourism
industry could be of the order of Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion). NRIs, Asians
and tourists from around the world are beginning to realize the potential of
modern and traditional Indian medicine. Health and medical tourism is
perceived to be one of the fastest growing segments in marketing Destination
Incredible India today. While this area has so far been relatively unexplored, we
now find that not only the ministry of tourism but also various state tourism

boards are promoting health and medical tourism as a segment with tremendous
potential for future growth, he says.
The Government does not deny that there are still some legal and infrastructural
problems that need to be ironed out like accreditation, quality care, transparency
in pricing, easy visa rules etc but they are not against doing the needful. The
Government of India is working towards creating a system in which investing in
India and all it has to offer becomes an easier and simpler process.

MEDICAL TOURISM AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR GDP

Looking up for a better and prosperous contribution to the society through
medical tourism. It is time to realise the potential of making a mark for ourselves
and the country in the field of medical science by collaborating with international
medical soci.
Sharing of a wonderful experience by a foreign national:
For thousands of medical tourists like George Marshall, this debate is invisible. In
2004, a heart bypass was recommended for the 73-year-old British citizen, which
would have cost him up to 20,000. I had to wait for over three months to see
the cardiologist and potentially a further six months for the operation, he said.
Instead, he paid 4,400 to Wockhardt Hospitals for the operation. Airfare and
travel insurance cost extra, and he paid with his own money, as insurance couldnt
cover his outsourcing of medical needs.
Existing offers available for medical tourists:
Currently, the offers available today for similar patients are specialised services
ranging from cardiology and cardiac surgery (angioplasty, bypass, valve
replacement), to oncology and onco-surgery, organ transplants (liver and kidney),

bone marrow transplants, joint replacements, eye surgery and in-vitro fertilisation.
The cost differential is significant, as it was for Marshall, for the patients.
Reason for going in for medical tourism:
Medical tourism is attracting people from all over the industrialised world, from
countries with relatively poor healthcare infrastructures and, in case of the US,
places with exorbitantly expensive health care systems.
Medical tourists from the US are usually those seeking procedures not covered
by their insurers, those seeking necessary procedures and who are provided with
incentives to find lower cost options, and those who cannot secure medical
insurance where they depend on the procedures and the physicians. Cosmetic
procedures are easily found in South America, while complex heart and
orthopedic procedures are found in India, Thailand and Singapore, and
specialized in-vitro fertilization can be found in South Africa, Israel and Spain.
In the global medical tourism industry, from cosmetic surgery to complex
oncology, bargain prices can be found at a medical centre somewhere in the
world. Time and money provide the incentives for seeking healthcare outside
country. In the case of public health systems with long delays, such as Britain,
time is the motivation.
Accredited hospitals are potential winners in wooing medical tourists:
Quality is a concern for potential medical tourists and what are now being called
offshore hospitals address their concern by seeking and obtaining accreditation
from bodies such as Joint Commission International (JCI), a subsidiary of the
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organisations (JCAHO),
which offers accreditation to hospitals in the US. Several other hospitals that are
offering medical tourism in India meet or exceed the standards of care of the
finest hospitals located in US.

Some advantage in availing this service:

The lower cost structure of these hospitals allows them to be more generous with
resources for their well-paying clients. Nurse-to-patient ratios are higher, private
rooms are readily available and family members are often included in the trip and
made comfortable in luxury facilities that resemble five-star hotels.
DrMilica Bookman, professor of economics at St. Josephs University in
Philadelphia, US, is author of the book Medical Tourism in Developing
Countries. According to her research on the economic impact of medical
tourism, 750,000 Americans are expected to have travelled abroad for treatment
in 2007 and over six million will be doing by 2010.
Some findings done through a study report by a global agency:
According to a study by global accounting and consulting firm Ernst and Young
and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI),
private hospitals in India earned Rs 62,000 corer in fiscal 2006 and revenues
from the sector are expected to rise up to Rs 130,000 crores (at current prices
and exchange rates) in 2012, which represents an annual revenue growth rate of
about 19 per cent a year.
Our Finance Ministrys projections on GDP:
The Finance Ministrys Investment Commission emphasises that healthcare
delivery is already one of the largest service-sector industries in India, and expects
the industry to grow and contribute up to five per cent of GDP (at around Rs.
240,000 crores) by 2010.
Comments offered by lead hospital spokesperson:
The sector is getting focused from an investment perspective, said Vishal Bali,
chief executive of Wockhardt Hospitals, who plans to double its hospitals to 30
from 15 in time span of two years. The drivers for the future are falling in

place. At the same time, DrPratap C Reddy, chairman of the Apollo Hospitals
Group, explained: We need to invest $60-70 billion over the next five years in
hospitals and healthcare education to expand this sector and reach out to masses
as soon as possible.
Comments offered by other professionals in this field:
Ravi Duggal, a researcher with the Mumbai-based policy analysis group, Centre
for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes, explained, The problem starts
when a developing country, which has 75 per cent of its population either poor
living at subsistence level, collaborates in promoting medical tourism when it
cannot meet the basic healthcare needs of a majority of its citizens. Medical
tourism creates a climate of inequitable services that undermine the goal of health
for all, in the view of DrNergis Mistry, scientific researcher with the Foundation
for Medical Research, Mumbai. Mistry warns against a technology and urbancentred approach to delivering health care: It raises the cost of healthcare for the
local population because it forces the use of expensive technology and drugs.
Number of people having visited India for as medical tourists:
India now hosts and treats an estimated of 50,000 medical tourists a year and the
catalytic CII-McKinsey report of 2002 projected that medical tourism could
contribute up to Rs 10,000 crores in revenue by the year 2012.
Existing guidelines seem to be inadequate:
In the major states, health departments issue guidelines to private hospitals
specifying their obligation to provide beds, treatment and services to the public
patient, and to return a portion of revenues from medical tourism into serving the
public health overburden, but neither are these hospital held to account on these
points by their respective state governments, nor does a standard country-wide
regulatory system exist to ensure such compliance.

Benefits are accruing only to private sectors:

A signal of state-directed change however comes from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
and Andhra Pradesh. As of now, it is only the private sector that is reaping the
benefits of medical tourism in Tamil Nadu, said health secretary VK Subburaj,
while the government sector remains out of this loop so far: We have been
focusing on public health. However, with the concept of pay wards coming up in
government hospitals for certain field segments; we can expect this trend to
change.

STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT TO ENHANCE MEDICAL TOURISM

The medical tourism market in India is worth US$ 333 million,2 growing at 30
percent per annum. Due to the emergence of this industry in India, massive tasks
lie ahead to synergise the resources of the two sectors. However there are issues
and challenges that need to be addressed to overcome the roadblocks to facilitate
the growth of this industry in India. The issues that need attention are:
1. Upgradation of basic amenities and hospital infrastructure

2. Co-ordination between the healthcare and tourism sectors

3. Creating a resource pool of highly skilled and cordial manpower
4. Standardization of services and accreditation of hospitals
5. Increasing visibility of India on the world map
6. The impact on domestic healthcare services

UPGRADATION OF BASIC AMENITIES AND HOSPITAL

INFRASTRUCTURE
Basic amenities in India are not up to international standards, especially air
connectivity, road links, conveyance services and Internet connectivity. This gives
a poor image of the country to health travelers, and also raises doubts about the
quality of healthcare facilities. The state of basic amenities in a country has a
considerable impact on the choice of destination for health travelers. Basic
amenities need to be upgraded and made hassle free. Travel visa is another
critical issue which the Indian government plans to address by introducing special
medical visas for foreign tourists coming to India for specialized treatment. This
visa will allow the patient to bring along two attendants and will also enable him to
access the finest medical care in the most recognized hospitals in the country, that
specialize in the treatment he is seeking. The move is caught in red tape at the
moment.
The existing infrastructure facilities in private hospitals in India are considered to
be on par with those in the UK and the US. However, with an annual growth rate
of 30 percent,4 there exists a huge opportunity to expand the hospital
infrastructure. Recognizing this, the government of India through various
measures is encouraging private sector investment in the sector. It has conferred
infrastructure status for the healthcare industry, and allowed foreign
collaboration. In addition, concessions in tax to raise cheaper long-term funds,
reduction in import and custom duties on medical equipment, increase in

depreciation limit and income tax exemption for the first five years if the hospital
has a capacity of hundred beds or more, have been granted. The concern here is
whether corporates will use these incentives as intended by the state, and whether
they will repay society in equal measure. Co-ordination between the Healthcare
and Tourism Sectors Co-ordinating the resources and services of two unrelated
sectorshealthcare and tourismis challenging. Strategic co-ordination essential
between these two sectors can be done through facilitation by the government.
The Indian Healthcare
Federation, Medical Tourism Council of Maharashtra, FICCI, government of
India and respective state governments are coordinating to promote this industry.
The services of both the healthcare and the tourism sector are required
simultaneously once the patient finalises the hospital from where he/she wishes to
avail of the healthcare services. Arrangement for passports, visas, airline tickets
and conveyance has to be made. The availability of doctor, date of surgery, days
to be spent in the hospital and recuperation services have to be confirmed. All
this requires co-operation from both the hospital and the tour operator. Thus
there is a need to train the people of these two sectors to meet the requirements
of this special segment of tourists. Conferences, interaction between the two
sectors,

knowledge

Upgradation

workshops,

coaching

for

personality

development
and investment in information technology are the ways to strengthen this synergy.

CREATING A RESOURCE POOL OF HIGHLY SKILLED AND

CORDIAL MANPOWER
Indian doctors are well-known abroad for their qualifications and skills. This is a
big advantage for hospitals in India in attracting more medical tourists. India has
the advantage of having advanced life saving healthcare services like organ

transplants, cardio-vascular surgery, eye treatment, hip replacement and in-vitro

fertilization. There are 5,00,000 doctors and 7,37,000 nurses serving in the
Indian healthcare sector and 18,000 persons get qualified as doctors each year
from 170 medical colleges, according to a CII-McKinsey report. This skilled
human resource
pool can help to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services in India. In
addition to hiring and retaining skilled manpower, service expectations of medical
tourists have made it imperative for hospitals to create an ambience of well-being
and cordiality so that their clients feel comfortable and well-attended while on
treatment. Corporate hospitals are investing in furnishing their facilities and in
training and development of personnel through seminars and short-term courses
to gear them up to meet the requirement. A major concern here is about trained
medical professionals who go abroad thus diminishing the service capabilities of
hospitals in the country. Another concern is that more that 50 percent of these
doctors are located in urban hospitals causing a shortfall in the already stressed
public healthcare system affecting the larger public
in the long run. Doctors working in these private hospitals currently contribute to
the public by participating or conducting medical camps and providing
consultancy services through telemedicine to remote villages. But once they get
assigned to foreign tourists, their continuance in public services may become
doubtful.

STANDARDIZATION IN PRICING AND ACCREDITATION OF

HOSPITALS
Standardization in pricing of various surgeries and healthcare services is required
as vast price differences exist across hospitals. The Indian Healthcare Federation

(IHF) has brought in the concept of price banding to bring some consistency in
the prices of different therapies and procedures, along with the move to accredit
hospitals. Currently the price banding concept is in the consensus stage; once all
the IHF

members approve it, it will be legalized through the government.

Accreditation
will be used to negotiate with overseas health insurance companies to extend their
cover to include treatment in India. Both standardization in pricing and
accreditation will help Indian hospitals in attracting more medical tourists. Dr.
NareshTrehan, the director of Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, says
there are 5 crore uninsured people in the US, where the annual premiumfor
health insurance is as high as $10,000 for a family of four. Besides, corporates are
finding it increasingly difficult to insure their employees as premium shoots up
faster than inflation due to the practice of defensive medicine to avoid litigation.
These factors will make the network of hospitals in India giving reliable care
sooner and cheaper, the ideal partner for overseas health insurance firms.
According to YP Bhatia, CEO of Delhi based Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, who
heads the CII task force on hospital accreditation, The effort is to develop a
comprehensive package for overseas nationals, which will help healthcare do what
IT did to the country. The CII-IHF combine is also drafting a code of ethics on
the relationship among healthcare professionals and institutions.
The rating agencies CRISIL and ICRA have rated hospitals like the Escorts
Heart Institute and Research Centre and the Apollo group. The requirement
now is for a standard accreditation system. A quality accreditation institution
called The National Accreditation Board for Hospital and Healthcare Service
Providers (NABH) is likely to be constituted under the aegis of the Quality
Council of India. The NABH will have three committeesAccreditation
committee, Technical committee and the Appeals committee. The proposed
system

will assess hospitals based on organizational and clinical governance, operational

management, focus on patients, clinical services and human resources, while
primary healthcare centres will be assessed on their management and clinical
services by designated agencies under the overall control of NABH.
The challenge lies in getting the consensus and legalization of this system
done. If it gets delayed in the consensus and legalization stages there will be delay
in reaping benefits it can bring for the medical tourism sector as well. Huge
investment is required to build and maintain this system. There is thus
apprehension about mismanagement of funds and resources as this task will be
carried out on a large scale around the country. There may be scope for fake
accredited hospitals to flourish along with the well-established ones.
INCREASING VISIBILITY OF INDIA ON THE WORLD MAP
Indias healthcare services cost far less compared to even Thailand, Singapore
and many other healthcare destinations. But it is the poor visibility on the world
healthcare tourism map and poor image of the country in terms of poverty and
basic amenities that deter people from coming to India. Thailand and Singapore
are promoting their healthcare services aggressively which has turned their
countries into healthcare hubs.
Lately, the government of India, the state governments, the Confederation of
Indian Industry and the Indian Healthcare Federation have begun promoting
India through road shows in some countries, participating in international trade
shows and exhibitions and placing advertisements in various media abroad. Tour
operators too are taking advantage of this opportunity. Kuoni has tied-up with the
Apollo group, and Cox & Kings with Dr. Batras, Vedic India and Omkar Trust.
More such tie-ups are on the anvil. Tourism packages specifically designed for
the healthcare

tourists are being aggressively promoted by these tour operators. Some hospitals
now have their own Marketing and Public Relations department. Websites too
have been set up for easy availability of information and for immediate contact.
THE IMPACT ON DOMESTIC HEALTHCARE SERVICES
India is one of the cheapest healthcare tourism hubs in the world especially for
advanced life saving surgeries. The inflow of medical tourists is on the rise in
India, and private hospitals are ever ready to serve this special segment. However,
concerns are being raised about the far reaching impact of medical tourism on the
public healthcare system that serves a larger section of the Indian society.
Although healthcare services provided by private hospitals in India to foreign
patients are cheap for them, these are still exorbitant for many Indians. The
private hospitals are registered under the Public Trust Act which makes them
liable to provide healthcare services free upto 20 percent of their resources in
return for subsidies received from the government. But, it is a question that
remains unanswered as to whether they are actually providing free healthcare
services to the public.
Another concern is about increasing concentration of doctors in urban hospitals.
Currently more than 50 percent of the doctors is concentrated in the urban
hospitals, especially in the metros. Private hospitals cater to nearly 65% of the
healthcare services market. The number of medical tourists is increasing, which
means demand for private healthcare services will increase. Private hospitals will
need more medical professionals to meet the increasing demand, and the
lucrative offers and the work environment they offer will attract many. The
public healthcare sector which is disadvantaged vis--vis the private hospitals on
these counts will be put under further strain. If more subsidies are given to private
hospitals and changes in regulation made to suit them, their concentration in the
sector will increase. The public healthcare system will remain neglected. Thus,
there is apprehension about the benefits of medical tourism to the Indian public.

CONCLUSION
To conclude my project I only want to tell that Medical Tourism in India is
one of the best options available to people across the globe. Millions come
every year to get treated and then enjoy their recuperative holidays across
India. People from different walks of life cut across the entire span of the globe
come to India to have their treatments done with peace of mind. India provides
world class medical facilities with hospitals and specialized multi specialty
health centers providing their expertise in the areas of Cosmetic Surgery,
Dental care, Heart Surgeries, Coronary Bypass, Heart Check up, Valve
replacements, Knee Replacements, Eye surgeries, Indian traditional treatments
like Ayurvedic Therapies and much more, practically covering every aspect of
medicine combining modern treatments with traditional experience

Bibliography

Internet web sites

www.google.com
www.indianhospitalassociation.com
www.yahoo.com
www.msn.com

BOOKS

NEWSPAPER

PERIODICALS

MAGAZINES

NAME OF PERSON.
AGE..
OCCUPATION..
DESIGNATION.

Is services provided by hospitals are satisfactory?

o Yes

No

o Cant say

. The treatment provided at hospitals is hygienic?

o Yes
No
o Cant say
. Are hospitals are satisfied with government contribution?
o Yes
No
o Cant say
Should India have to increase there surgeries?
o Yes
o No
o Cant say
Are Indians aware of medical tourism?

Yes
No
Cant say

Total tourist visiting at Indian hospitals?

 10-40%
40-80%
80-90%

India position among different other country in medical tourism?

o 1st
o 2nd
Any other
Guest is satisfied of services in hospitals?
o Yes
No
o Cant say

Is Indian hospital services are affordable by all or not?

Yes

No

o Cant say

The physician in hospitals are well trained?

Yes

 No
o Cant say
The accommodation facilities are adequate for patients?

o Yes
o No
o Cant say

The staff is well trained about hygiene or not?

o Yes
No
o Cant say

There is increase or decrease in patients at Indian hospitals?

o Increase
o Decrease
o Cant say