Hospitals in the country are fuming over the reference made in the medical journal Lancet regarding the organism that is believed to lead a new antibiotic resistance mechanism named as New Delhi metallo beta lactamase (NDM-1). They are also concerned over the claims made in the report on the safety issues on travelling to India for treatment, since it will effect the status of India as a cheap destination for quality medical treatment.

Recently, Lancet had published a report about emergence of a new antibiotic resistance mechanism in India, Pakistan, and the UK. In which Karthikeyan K Kumaraswamy had interpreted that new antibiotic resistance mechanism spread possibly from India and said that it was unsafe to travel to India for treatment because they believe that resistance genes/organism which the journal named as New Delhi metallo beta lactamase (NDM-1) possibly is originated in India.

According to Dr S K Mohanty, medical director, Jaslok Hospital, it was not justified to name the organism as Delhi super-bug since there is no data to prove or substantiate that it was originated in India. He pointed out that this organism can be found all over the world but just because the study refers to India does not mean the organisms have to be named after the Indian capital.

Questioning the authority over naming the bug after a city, Mohanty pointed out that it was preposterous of the researchers to name the organism after a city. If an organism can be named after a city then why was not MRSA which was first discovered in UK named as London bug or why was not AIDS named USA bug where it was first tested and discovered.

Spokesperson from Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad feels, “It is a move taken deliberately by the Western countries to malign the reputation of India, since we are capable of providing quality medical treatment at cheap rates compared to the Western world.” He pointed out that the organism was discovered long back and it is unjustified to name it after an Indian city. Such an action is sure to cause panic and doubt among the western population. He hinted that the hospitals are planning to come forward to discuss on this issue with the government soon.

Medical tourism or health tourism is a developing concept in India whereby people from across the world visit India for their medical and relaxation needs. Most common treatments are heart surgery, knee transplant, cosmetic surgery and dental care. The reason India is a favourable destination is because of its infrastructure and technology in which it is at par with those in USA, UK and Europe. At present about 20 per cent of the revenue of the hospitals in India comes from medical tourism and with proper government incentives and support it can be increased to 40 per cent.