The Bangkok-based Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA) which promotes standards and practices for medical traveller’s has recognized Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore (formerly Wockhardt Hospitals) as the most preferred destination in the world for medical tourists from America. The hospital was ranked No. 1 in the first list of the top 10 world’s best hospitals for medical tourists at Bangkok.

“Medical tourism is more than getting good medical care abroad. Safety and security, international patient operations and protocols, transparency and professional patient facilitation are key to achieving an excellent medical outcome for International patients who are more important than just the cost of care”, according Julie Munro, founder, MTQUA who has spent many years in the medical travel industry.

MTQUA released the ranking based on an exhaustive study across patients, hospitals and healthcare travel agencies and all the 10 selected Hospitals provide medical treatment and care of the highest quality with the most advanced technology. All hospitals have also developed outstanding local and regional reputations.

According to MTQUA, the top five hospitals are: Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore, Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore, Prince Court Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Shouldice Hospital, Toronto and Shoen-Kliniken, Munich.

“It gives us great pride to make India get the top slot as the world’s leading destination for International patients” said Vishal Bali, CEO, Fortis Hospitals Group, India. “By providing a strong foundation of quality in all our patient care processes along with affordability we have delivered to both our domestic and international patients’ exceptional value” he added. .

Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore was merited in the top slot based on the criteria which included high standards of quality medical care, International Patient Management, International Patient Marketing, value for services, patient safety and security, transparency (Patients receive a portfolio of their medical file and surgery documents including CT scans, MRI and X-rays, and operative notes to be taken to their home country) and Attention To The Unique Needs Of The Medical Traveller.

The hospital under the umbrella of Wockardt was the first to offer medical tourism option. Over 50 per cent of the hospital’s international patients are Americans. The medical centre is known for its prompt scheduling of pre-surgery preparation, follow up care and services to monitor medical travellers once they return home.