Rise Of Medical Tourism In India

Imagine yourself living in the 20th century and suffering from the fatal disease — Smallpox, which hit India in 1974, with no medical treatment to survive the disease. That would have been pretty scary, right? Even though the disease was eradicated from the world five years later. After that, the world has seen a rapid advancement in the medical sector, along with a cure for deadliest diseases. There has been a big change in the technological progress in the treatment and vaccination of most diseases

Medical Tourism

The term “Medical Tourism” can be broadly explained as a provision of ‘cost-effective’ private medical hospitals that collaborate with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment. The availability of proper treatment and relatively cheaper medical treatment on a global level promotes exponential growth and rapid expansion in this sector. The foreign and domestic patients prefer Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat for medical treatment along with tourism. The rise in Medical Tourism in India has increased tourism and made India a hub for medical treatment.

Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy about Medical Tourism in India. Various studies gathered the opinions of foreign tourists/ patients to assess the quality of medical and non- medical facilities provided by Indian hospitals. The statistics were good and showed positive opinions given by the tourists. India has historically been a regional health care hub for neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and the Middle-East. A robust pharmaceutical industry, growing insurance market, development of top private and public sector health care delivery centers close to the tourism destinations makes India a preferred health tourism destination.

Facts and Figures

The figures for 2015 and 2017 show a significant increase in the number of people visiting India that is 4,95,056 visits making it a $3 billion industry. According to the Ministry of Tourism, India’s Medical Tourism could grow by 200% by 2020, hitting $9 billion industry. In the Lower House of Parliament, the Minister KJ Alphons said,
“India can provide medical and health care of international standards at a low cost. India excels in the state of the art medical facilities, reputed health care professionals, quality nursing facilities and traditional health care therapies”.

In 2018, Max Health Care, a chain of private hospitals, treated up to 50,000 patients, with the majority traveling from the Middle-East, Central Asia and Africa. Health care and Medical Tourism in India has been termed as a lucrative business with tremendous growth in the years to come.

Many factors contribute to this significant rise in the Medical Tourism industry. Let’s take a look at all of them.

1. Change In VISA Rule For Tourists

The Indian government has amended the E-Visa rules for 150 countries on health and Medical Tourism that make visa procurement easy in India. The law has been amended to boost the Medical Tourism industry. The government has also amended E-Visas to include short-term treatment under Ayurveda. The average stay of an international tourist for Ayurveda treatment is 6 days. The new rules will benefit Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, which are the hub for Ayurveda treatment. Earlier the Visa policies were stringent, which included a lot of formalities and documentation. Now, the new process will make it easier for tourists to come to India as medical tourists.

2. Cost Savings

There exists a considerable amount of cost savings in treatment performed in India, which serves as a major attraction to the tourists looking for medical treatment in India. On average, the savings on medical treatments in India can start from 65% and can go up to 90% with the patient receiving quality care as compared to other countries. Who would not want to save some extra bucks after all?

3. Well-Trained Doctors

Indian doctors have a reputation for high-quality medical training. A lot of them have studied abroad and have returned to India to continue their practice. Medical Tourism is a lucrative business, but they’re still many challenges, such as quality and continuity of treatment. In short, there is no quality assurance between countries when it comes to treatment. So, if something goes wrong, there is no way for legal redress as there is no international body to regulate the quality check.

4. Traditional Health Practices

Traditional health practices like Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy are now being promoted to attract tourists around the globe. Ayurveda is an ancient Hindu system of medicine, while Siddha and Unani are similar in their approach. Although Unani traces its roots back to ancient Greece. All these health practices come under the Ministry of AYUSH, which was created in 2014 to increase the awareness of traditional health practices around the globe. The tourists find peace in these traditional treatments as these involve treatment based on the notion of body.

5. Opportunity To Visit India

India is a diverse country and people around the globe want to indulge in its culture and history while on the other hand, they get the medical cure at comparatively less price. Patients visit India not only for the quality and affordability of healthcare service but also for the beautiful scenery and architecture in India’s landscape. In India, medical travel brings a mix of pleasure, luxury, and quality healthcare for medical travelers. So, what’s better than to explore India’s holistic approach with the best healthcare and wellness services.

6. Better Facilities

The National Accreditation Board accredits many hospitals in India for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and Joint Commission International (JCI). Some private hospitals in India now provide health care packages for foreign patients, which offer pick-ups from the airport to the hospital, free in-room Wi-Fi, and private chefs.‍

Additionally, in India, there is close to zero waiting time, as scheduling surgery or intervention is done quickly once the diagnosis is confirmed.

Here is the list of Top 5 cities of India which are renowned for Medical Tourism

Mumbai –

Mumbai is one of the biggest cities in India and has a prominent place in the world tourism map. This city is the center of all business and medical activities in the country and so can be considered as an ideal destination for medical tourists around the world. Mumbai Medical Tourism boasts a large number of highly qualified medical professionals and state-of-the-art medical facilities. The city, with its vibrant life and friendly people, will definitely make your vacation there an enjoyable one. Astha Health Care, Asian Heart Institute, Seven Hills Hospital are the top institution for medical care.

Goa —

Goa is an ideal tourist hub for tourists all around the world. Precisely because of the beautiful beaches filled with serenity and bliss. Another reason why many want to visit this beautiful state of Goa is Medical Tourism. One such reputed and Multi-Specialty Hospitals in Goa is Vision Multi-Specialty Hospital. Medical Tourism at Vision Care provides a wide range of exclusive services to international patients, ensuring them of a pleasant and comfortable experience throughout their stay. Vision has a foreign insurance tie-up with AXA Assistance, which is a popular service for patients who come for medical treatment from abroad.

Kerala —

Kerala is a renowned destination for Ayurvedic Health Packages. It is widely famous for its moderate weather climate. The Government is controlling most of the hospitals in Kerala. The industry offers reasonable health packages to the patients, along with the most beautiful scenic environment. Kerala is a must visit for every foreigner who is coming to India for medical care. The medical treatments available in Kerala are General Surgery, Ayurveda, Cardiac Care, Neurosurgery, Dental Care, etc.

Karnataka —

Karnataka’s flora and fauna make it a nature tourist’s paradise. The long colorful history, monuments, forts, etc. make a place worth visiting once in a lifetime. Karnataka has many health institutions providing medical health care at standardizing cost. The state is also well known for its specialization in Ayurveda. The state is capable of providing Dental Health Care, Heart Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery along with scenic beauty. It also attracts a lot of tourists from abroad for medical treatment.

Gujarat —

Gujarat being a textile and diamond hub also contributes to Medical Tourism to a great extent. Ahmedabad has earned a prominent distinction of being the most valued place for medical treatments in the country. The unmatchable infrastructure of super-specialty hospitals, treatment centers, along with affordable costs, is one of the major contributors that make Gujarat the most favorable place for Medical Tourism. Cure and Fly Medical Tourism is one of the well-known institutions in Gujarat, providing high class services at a reasonable price.

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