SurgeryPlanet, a medical facilitation company has developed the eCarePlanet which is a telemedicine online software. It provides both patients and medical professionals an interactive online platform to have direct access to over 1,000 hospitals in 44 countries to schedule appointments, transmit medical files, plan treatment and coordinate arrangements to connect for treatment and billing.

eCarePlanet, to be launched next week in the US, is a patient management system completely internet based, secure and user friendly. It enables hospitals, doctors, diagnostic centers, insurance companies, hotels, travel organizers and other partners to be linked live to the system via the web. It will also increase medical tourism opportunities in high quality-low cost healthcare countries like India.

It is the first platform of its kind providing an absolutely transparent service to patients in anywhere globally. Users can make an informed choice based on their individual requirements and circumstances, Augustine Joseph, CEO and founder, SurgeryPlanet, told Pharmabiz.

The two-year-old California-based company invested $2 million to develop the facilitation, network offices and software. The venture was funded by the promoter. Within the next two years, for its next phase of growth, it would scout for venture capital funds. The global healthcare facilitation services to patients assists in accessing high quality and low cost healthcare to patients who can make an informed decisions, he added.

The company, a 'A' rated US Corporation, is based in California with offices in US, India at Bangalore and Europe. Bangalore office is a information facilitation and processing centre. It will open its second office in India at Delhi. The company not only facilitates medical treatment abroad but also in the patient's home country.

"Sometimes people want more information about their local hospitals on specialties and cost of a specific treatment. With eCarePlanet, they get instant quotes and even a free consultation with a surgeon if needed. We are in the process of signing agreements with hospitals to make available this service. Most of these services are free to the patient and we are there assisting them every step to access treatment," said Joseph.

According to reports, over 7 million patients travel annually abroad for healthcare needs. In 2007, from the US, over 7,50,000 people travelled to overseas hospitals to access affordable and high quality medical treatment. The number is expected to rise to 6 millions in 2010.

The increasing number of uninsured people in the US, the waiting periods for treatment, and lack of treatment options in government healthcare systems in the UK and Canada are making patients to look out for faster and quality care at low cost from overseas hospitals.

India's medical tourism sector is expected to experience an annual growth rate of 33 per cent, making it a Rs 10,000-crore industry by 2015. Estimates of the value of medical tourism to India go as high as $2 billion a year by 2012. Advantages for medical tourists include reduced costs, the availability of latest medical technologies and a growing compliance on international quality standards, as well as the fact that foreigners are less likely to face a language barrier in India.