Medical tourism can be a new word for you, but the term has become common in many countries and now gaining popularity in India as well. On the global level, the country's rising credibility and emerging new possibilities in the field of medical tourism have created jobs for Indians.
Medical Tourism is when people who live in one country travel to another city, region or state to receive medical, dental and surgical care while at the same time receiving equal to or greater care than they would have in their own home city, and are travelling for medical care because of affordability, better access to care or a higher level of quality of care.
People from Asia, Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, South Korea, Pakistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are coming for health tour in India. By 2020, the pharmaceutical industry will cross the $ 55 billion mark.
What is medical tourism
Medical Tourism is basically a term for travel that focuses on medical treatments and the use of healthcare services. It covers a wide field of health-oriented, tourism ranging from preventive and health-conductive treatment to rehabilitation and curative forms of travel. Medical Tourism is when people travel to obtain medical assistance from less-developed countries to major medical centres in highly developed countries for treatment unavailable or are comparatively expensive at their home countries.
According to a joint study by Hassock with Indian Institute of Tourism and , year-on-year growth is expected to be 15.92 per cent in the pharmaceutical industry. In 2005, the annual growth of the $6 billion was 17.46 percent annually between 2005 and 2016.
Medical tourism in India
Medical treatment in India include reduced costs, the availability of latest medical technologies, and a growing compliance on international quality standards, doctors trained in western countries including US and UK, as well as English speaking personnel, due to which foreigners are less likely to face language barrier in India. The most popular treatments sought in India by medical tourists are alternative medicine, bone-marrow transplant, cardiac bypass, eye surgery and hip replacement. India is known in particular for heart surgery, hip resurfacing and other areas of advanced medicine.
The main reason for boom in the sector is the climate and ancient medicine system, in which the purpose of tourism is fulfilled along with the cure of disease. On health visas, India has crossed the threshold of 42000 in 2013 to 99000 in 2015. According to the report, in the first half of 2015, about one lakh health visitor came to India on health visa. These include health tourists from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, South Korea, Pakistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, including Western Asia, African countries. These health tourists mostly come for the heart, cancer, bone, operation of the nervous system and organ transplant. Simultaneously, traditional Indian medicine, yoga, meditation, ayurveda and homoeopathic medicine also attract people.
Advantages of medical tourism Price
This is the main reason most people initially cite for their decision to go overseas for medical treatment, but the situation is actually even better than the bare numbers suggest. While there is considerable variation, as a rule of thumb Thailand, India’s major competitor, is approximately 20 per cent more expensive while the South American and other medical tourism hubs weigh in at 50-100 per cent more than India.
Service
The quality of treatment and other services are assured to be good and that to at the best price possible. For the price of a basic single in the United States, a medical tourist could rent an Imperial or Royal Suite at Thai hospitals, including guest bedrooms, a living room and a dining room.
Quality
One of the major issues that prospective medical tourists grapple with is accepting a reduction in quality, not just in facilities but also in the physicians themselves. Medical care is about getting the absolute best treatment that can be gotten and is inherently a selfish pursuit. Medical tourism effectively allows a middle-class patient from the developed world to receive upper-class treatment. Quality goes up, not down.
Greater choices
Medical tourists also have greater access to different treatment types than those who choose not to travel. With a well-planned tour, most surgeries can be conducted within days of landing and consultation in any of the medical tourism hubs.
Tourism
Medical tourism is often as much about the tourism as the medicine. For those undergoing major surgery, there is no better place to recover than a bungalow with a view of the beach while receiving physical therapy. Similarly, for family accompanying a patient a week at the beach or a shopping spree can clear up a lot of stress following a surgery.
Disadvantages Language and culture barrier
While some people enjoy travelling and experiencing new cultures, patients about to undergo major surgery are rarely among them. For those with little experience in travelling, staying at home may be less stressful, than the more expensive alternative.
No legal recourse
While the treatments for complications are also low-priced, there will be effectively no opportunity to get financial compensation either to pay for more treatment or for emotional distress.
Finding the right hospital or travel agent is often a stumbling block for medical tourist. Agents can take care of other issues with your trip, however, such are air tickets, hotel bookings and tour packages. If you have little experience travelling, they are a safe bet. When looking for agents to recommend a location for your medical care, however, it is better to research and choose your destination country yourself.
(The author is Medical Superintendent at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute )