India's attraction to the tourist has always been that of the exotic, the ancient, the spiritual. But now tourists flock to India in search of something else. It's the cost effective health care facilities offered by India that is attracting the European and American visitors. The medical tourism in India is offering stiff competition to other medical tourism destinations like Thailand and Singapore.
This spurt in the medical tourism sector in India has certain very discernible reasons.
The western health care system is overloaded. Patients have to wait a long time even for a critical surgery. Besides, the cost of health care is sky rocketing. The health insurance barely, most times does not, cover the cost of serious surgeries. Patients are provided only a bare minimum post operative care. There is also the fact that various surgeries are still banned in many western countries. This is due to the scarcity of well trained nursing professionals there. And the high demand for well trained nurses means that most people cannot afford their services.
This is where the Asian, and now more and more prominently the Indian medical tourism sector has come into play.
More and more western patients have started visiting India for resolving their health issues. And India is providing them with cheaper, better and timely health care.
Due to the currency differences, even a costly surgery falls cheap on an American or European wallet. Rough estimates put it at around 30-40% of a Surgery in a Western country.
Cost is just one factor. The expertise of the Indian medical practitioner is also a prominent factor for the growth of Indian medical tourism. Educated in Western medical universities, and practicing there for years, the top Indian doctors are easily comparable to their western counterparts. With all the latest medical equipments at their disposal, they are easily at par with any top notch foreign doctor.
The economic boom of last two decades has seen a huge surge in the medical sector too. There is a mushrooming of private hospitals. Their facilities and infrastructure can easily compete with any Western facility. It has been a great factor in the medical tourism sector in India. With the available infrastructure, which is considerable, there is no long waiting queue for an operation. And it is certainly an important factor in vital surgeries like heart, neuro etc.
The low cost surgery also includes the post operative care part. The post operation care is vital in the recovery of a patient. Unlike in West, where due to limited number of beds, patients are released from soon after the operation, in India they are provided an elongated recuperation period. Besides, the nursing professionals in India have proved to be well trained and thorough.
India also has a long tradition of alternative medicines. Natural healing systems like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha are especially finding favour with western patients. Especially as cure for stress cases, muscle injuries, bone fractures, pains. The most attractive factor of these medicines are that they are free of any side effects, besides being highly effective.
What has put the Indian medical tourism sector way ahead of other Asian medical tourism destinations is the language factor. India has a huge populace of English speakers, which makes it easier for the patients to communicate with their health caretakers. Health is one area where the customers seek to understand everything happening to them and seek constant reassurance about the processes. With the English speaking health workers, India is easily providing for this vital psychological need of the western patient. This is part of the reason why India is leaving behind Thailand as a health tourism hotspot.
The India medical tourism sector offers eye care, heart care, heart surgery, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment, orthopedic surgery, Cosmetic treatment, Dental care and also cheap health check up to the foreign patients.
To grasp the cost difference in Indian medical tourism sector and US health care, one fact should suffice. A heart surgery which costs about $30,000 in USA can cost as low as $ 8,000 in India.
India too seems all set to explore the medical tourism sector. There is a huge effort to increase the infrastructure to better suit the foreign patients' needs. India is highlighting itself as a comprehensive solution for any and all medical needs. And for now it seems that India is rising as the most prominent player in the medical tourism sector.
The Indian government is offering medical visas for prospective medical tourists. The tourists will be allowed to enter India on this visa, and can stay for the duration of their treatment.
The medical tourism companies are also positively highlighting the facilities available in India.
SurgeryPlanet facilitates a plethora of services to the medical treatment traveler also which includes, a hassle free and discounted travel option, a welcome hand at the airport on arrival, travel in an air-conditioned car, round the clock service & support. Your medical evaluation is pre arranged with the least of waiting time. Once your assessment is complete and found medically fit, the procedure is immediately scheduled without a waiting period.
For more information log onto www.surgeryplanet.com
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