HCG, the oncology major with a network of 18 centres in India is expected to witness an increasing number of foreign patients to treat cancer using its Cyber Knife technology. Around 42 cancer cases of the total 120 patients undergoing CyberKnife treatment at its Centre are from abroad. The hospital has now successfully treated a patient from Holland who was diagnosed of Stage IV adenoid cystic carcinoma commonly referred to as head and neck cancer.

The Dutch patient Dick Gadella was diagnosed of cancer in September 2009 which spread to his lungs and liver. Doctors abroad had given him only few months to survive. This is when the patient headed to India to consult HCG and take on a non invasive radio-surgery treatment with the  CyberKnife. A scan after 8 weeks has proved that cancer spread is under control.

The team of experts led by Dr BS Ajai Kumar, chairman and radiation oncologist, HCG advised CyberKnife treatment. “This was a test to our expertise where our team made a pathology analysis of the cancer which is extremely difficult to treat when doctors from the developed world had given up hope. This case has now given us ample confidence to handle more complicated conditions from around the world,” he added.

Currently, patients from US, Europe, Bangladesh and Tanzania access our centre for care. The biggest advantage for HCG is the access to expertise under one roof and installation of the latest technology to treat the dreaded disease, said Dr. Kumar.

More than the cost it is the quality of care which has been appreciated by the recent patient who showed no symptoms as the cancer manifested only in the Stage IV. In India there are patients suffering from adenoid cystic carcinoma, but it is not so common among the cancers that are diagnosed, said Dr Kumar.

According to McKinney report medical tourism in India is expected to become a US$ 2 billion industry. International patients flock to India primarily for the high quality care and access to expertise. In an earlier interaction with Pharmabiz, Dr Kumar said that although treatment costs are one fifth in Indian medical centres compared to hospitals abroad, in serious diseases like cancer, cost is the least consideration as survival of the patient is of prime concern.