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What is medical tourism?
 Medical tourism is a term that has risen from the rapid growth
of the industry where people from all around the world are
traveling to other countries to obtain medical, dental, and
surgical care while at the same time touring, vacationing, and
fully experiencing the attractions of the countries that they
are visiting.
Health & 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.
India…the growth story
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.
Advantage India
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Indian hospitals have tasted 98.5 percent
success in heart surgeries.
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English speaking doctors, nurses &
public.
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The latest innovations in medical
electronics with unmatched expertise.
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The canteens in all major hospitals
provide speciality cuisines such as Arab, Malaysian, Thai
and Continental
INDIAN HEALTHCARE CAPABILITY
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Over 60,000 cardiac surgeries done per year with out comes
at par with international standards.
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Multi organ transplants like Renal, Liver, Heart, Bone
Marrow Transplants, are successfully performed at one tenth
the cost.
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Patients from over 55 countries treated at Indian Hospitals.
Latest trends
A number of private hospitals also offer packages designed to
attract wealthy foreign patients, with airport-to-hospital bed
car service, in-room Internet access and private chefs.
Another trend is to combine surgery in India with a yoga
holiday or trip to the world famous Taj Mahal
State Initiatives
Kerala
Kerala pioneered health and medical tourism in India. They
have made a concerted effort to promote health tourism in a
big way, which has resulted in a substantial increase of
visitor arrivals into the state. Kerala and Ayurveda have
virtually become synonymous with each other. However, though
Kerala has strongly focussed on Ayurveda and its wide array of
treatments and medications, good facilities are also available
in the other traditional forms of medicine as well as in
modern medical treatment
Karnataka:
government is setting up a Bangalore International Health City
Corporation which will cater to patients for a wide variety of
health care products and treatments.
Maharashtra:Asian Heart Institute at
Bandra-Kurla Complex, which offers state-of-the art
facilities. It is estimated that foreigners account for about
12 per cent of all patients in top hospitalsof Mumbai.
Chennai:Apollo Hospitals has treated some 60,000
foreigners over the last three years. Apollo has information
centers in neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh
and appointments can be fixed from across the world through
their web site. It also has a tie-up with the Tanzanian
government, and also with authorites in Oman.
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INDIAN HOSPITALS CAN OFFER MEDICAL
SERVICES AT A FRACTION OF THE US / EUROPEAN COST |
|
Treatment |
COST (US $) |
|
US |
Thailand |
India |
UK |
|
Heart Surgery |
40,000 |
7,500 |
6,000 |
23,000 |
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Bone
Marrow Transplant |
2,50,000 |
---- |
26,000 |
1,50,000 |
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Liver Transplant |
3,00,000 |
---- |
69,000 |
2,00,000 |
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Knee
Replacement |
20,000 |
8,000 |
6,000 |
12,000 |
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Cosmetic Surgery |
20,000 |
3,500 |
2,000 |
10,000 |
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