Medical Tourism - A

Milestone in
Indian Tourism

MEDICAL TOURISM

It is the act of traveling to other countries to obtain medical,

dental and surgical cure.

Medical tourism also called medical travel, health tourism
or global healthcare
It also refers pejoratively to the practice of healthcare
providers traveling internationally to deliver healthcare.
Services typically sought by travelers include elective
procedures as well as complex specialized surgeries such
as joint replacement, 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

Objectives of the study

To study the status of Medical Tourism in India.
To study the Cost Comparison of Medical Tourism between India and
U.K&U.S.A
To suggest the suitable measures to promote Medical Tourism in our
country.

Methodology
This study is only based on secondary data, which are all collected
form various books and journals etc;

MEDICAL TOURISM GLOBAL SCENARIO

Globally, medical tourism is calculated as a $40 billion industry. People from

Afro-Asian countries spend 5 percent of their earnings every year on health
care services outside their countries.
Four countries, especially Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and the
Philippines pulled in over 1.5 million medical travelers and earned more
than $1.5 billion as treatment costs and 20 per cent increase in earning
through medical travel spending every year.
Due to the rapid growth of Medical Tourism in certain countries, all the
countries are fighting for their global share.
South American countries attract patients for plastic surgery from around
the globe.
Many countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa the
Philippines, realized the potential of the industry and started developing
strategies to attract more medical tourists.

MEDICAL TOURISM IN ASIA:

The total number of Primary schools are 32,242, which
covers 29.4 lakhs girl students out of 61.4 lakhs of total
students.
In the same way 8,525 middle schools are functioning with
10.2 lakhs of girl students out of total students (22.7
lakhs).
Nearly 3,050 secondary schools are functioning with 6.1
lakhs of girl out of the total students of 12.1 lakhs.
Like that 3,425 higher secondary schools cover with 17.6
lakhs of girl out of the total students of 36.1 lakhs.

MEDICAL TOURISM IN INDIA

India has positioned itself as a medical tourism destination recently, and it touted
as the best destination among world countries for medical tourism. India received
100,000 overseas patients in 2002 as against 10,000 in 2000.
With this rapid growth India finds a Good place in the global medical tourism
market. According to the study by McKinsey and Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) medical tourism in India could become a $2 billion Business by 2012.
The size of the Indian healthcare industry is around Rs 110,000 crore, Accounting
for nearly 5.2 per cent of the GDP. It is likely to reach 6.2 per cent to 6.5 per cent
of the GDP by 2012. It has a tremendous impact on Indias forex reserve.
According to research by the University of Delavare Publication, the cost of
surgery in Bolivia, Argentina, India, Thailand, the Philippines, can be one-tenth of
what it is in US or Europe.
The government and private hospital groups are committed to the goal of making
India a world leader in this industry. Its appeal is low-cost treatment. Most
patients from countries like USA, and UK travel to India for treatment because
India offers the cheapest pricing options of treatment, offers a good holiday, no
waiting lists or queues to stand in.

FAMOUS PLAYER
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

Apollo Hospitals.
B M Birla Heart Research Centre.
Christian Medical College, Vellore.
Tata Memorial Hospital.
Indraprastha Medical Foundation.
Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.
Escorts Hear Institute & Research Centre.
Dr Agarval Eye Hospital
Manipal Heart Foundation.
Breach Candy Hospital.
Miot Hospital.

Cost Comparison of Selected Surgeries

Procedure

U.S.($)

U.K($)

Thailand($)

Singapore($)

India($)

Heart bypass

130,000

100,000

11,000

18,500

10,000

Heartvalve

160,000

43,000

10,000

12,500

9,000

Angioplasty

57,000

63,000

13,000

13,000

11,000

Hip

43,000

48,000

12,000

12,000

9,000

Hysterectomy

20,000

6000

4,500

6,000

3,000

Knee

40,000

52,000

10,000

13,000

8,500

62,000

61,000

7,000

9,000

5,500

replacement

replacement

replacement
Spinal fusion

Source: American Medical Association, June 2007

Cost Comparison of Cosmetic Surgery

(Costs in U.S $)

Procedure

U.S.($)

Thailand($)

Singapore($)

India($)

Face-lift

20000

4800

6250

3100

Breast

10000

3150

8000

2200

Augmentation
Breast Reduction

10000

3900

8000

3000

Eyelid Surgery

7000

1400

3750

2200

Liposuction

10000

2100

5000

2500

Nose Surgery

7300

3850

4400

1800

Tummy Tuck

8500

4050

6250

Source: American Medical Association, June 2007

3400

Cost Comparison between India, US, and United Kingdom

Procedure
Open

U.S.($)

Heart

India($)

100000

43000

7500

(CABG)
Total Knee Replacement

48000

52000

6300

Hip Resurfacing

55000

48000

7000

LA Hysterectomy

22000

24000

4000

Lap Cholcystectomy

18000

20000

3000

Spinal

60000

65000

5500

65000

70000

Fusion
Obesity

Surgery

U.K($)

Decompression
Surgery

(Gastric

Bypass)

Source: Wockhardt Hospitals-2008

9400

CHALLENGES BEFORE INDIAN

MEDICAL TOURISM:
( in percentage)

No active cooperation/support from government to promote medical

tourism
No world class infrastructure
Lack of international/global accreditation.
Different pricing policy in hospitals
Lack of coordination between various players in the industry airlines,
hotels and hospitals.
Strong competition from other countries like Singapore, Malaysia,
Thailand and Philippines.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN PROMOTING

MEDICAL TOURISM

Reducing the hurdles in visa processing

Can implement On-Arrival visa-for medical tourists.
Can open a healthcare information centre in all Indian
Embassies around the world countries.
An association or organization can be formed.
Should position ourselves as a holistic healthcare
Destination in the global medical tourism market.
Can include several packages for patients as value-added
services

CONCLUSION
Tourism and healthcare, being an integral part of much economic, service
industry, are important sources of Forex. India is unique as it offers
holistic healthcare approach through yoga, meditation, ayurveda and
other different approaches to cure the disease. India offers vast
services combined with culture, which is rare to be found in other
countries, and also paves the way to maintain cordial relationship with
other countries. To conclude, the USP of Indian medical tourism
industry is cost effectiveness. The slogan will suit this situation. First
class service at an economy cost. Moreover, with the coordination
among the stakeholders, public and private there is no doubt that we
can position India in a best place in global medical tourism market

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Whom? Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, 11, 77-78.
Gahlinger, PM. The Medical Tourism Travel Guide: Your Complete Reference to TopQuality, Low-Cost Dental, Cosmetic, Medical Care & Surgery Overseas. Sunrise River
Press, 2008
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Pinto, A.D., & Upshur, R.E.G. (2009). Global Health Ethics for Students.
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Laurie Goering, "For big surgery, Delhi is dealing," The Chicago Tribune, March 28, 2008
Lagace, Martha "The Rise of Medical Tourism", Harvard Business School Working
Knowledge, December 17, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
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Sept 18, 2006. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
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