International patients are accessing Indian medical centres for cancer care driven by the positive outcome from oncologists expertise followed by dependable access to technology at a reasonable cost. From HCG to Apollo Hospital Group, Fortis, Medanta-The Medicity, Max Healthcare Artemis Hospital, Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre, to name a few are a hot bed for international patients to access treatment for cancer and related complicated and chronic conditions. These hospitals are accredited by international agencies and recognised by patients and are offering world-class care.

According to Dr B S Ajaikumar, founder, chairman, HCG Enterprise, foreign patients usually say that it is an Indian oncologist at the hospitals in the US and UK seen to have the expertise. This led many such patients to come to India for the treatment. In fact, the patient care for cancer in India is on par and can be accessed at one-tenth the cost.

The high quality medical expertise and advanced technology invested by us helps diagnose, treat and allow early control of disease manifestation. In fact India is now home to a team of well qualified oncologists, state of the art infrastructure with latest equipment like CyberKnife and genomic based tests for cancer prevention, diagnostics and targeted therapy now available through the Strand-Triesta Centre for Cancer Genomics, he added.

Use of information technology has paved a way for paradigm shift in patient management and interface especially in the areas of telemedicine, tele ICU, electronic medical records and system driven drug delivery and dispensing system. This has brought in a sea change in the prevention of medical errors hence saving lives and costs. Top-of-the-line diagnostics and imaging services have made a huge impact in the area of clinical prognosis which is aiding doctors for accurate and quicker turnaround. State-of art-technology like True Beam and Cyberknife for cancer treatment both of which are available with Apollo Group has made a difference in delivery of treatment with high level of accuracy with less pain and quick recovery, said Dr Umapathy Panyala, chief executive officer, Karnataka Region, Apollo Hospitals.

The International Journal of Business and Management Invention has reported that Indian medical tourism would grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of over 19per cent and will reach up to $1.3 million by 2013 end.

The Union government has issued medical visas for a year. It has also provided a provision to extend the medical visa if prescribed by the hospital.

The big drivers of medical tourism in India, according to Dr. Pratap C Reddy, chairman Apollo Hospital are the presence of the highest number of JCI accredited centres carrying out complex cardiac procedures, advanced orthopaedic surgery which includes knee and hip replacement surgery, besides organ transplant, complicated neurosurgery, ophthalmology, dental care among others. There are foreign direct investments coming in too not just in pharmaceuticals but also healthcare. The Columbia Hospital and the 300-bed centre which is a joint venture between Kirloskar India, Toyota Tsusho Japan and Secom Hospitals Japan was commissioned in 2013.

Every hospital in the country are now well equipped with qualified doctors with global exposure, English speaking staff covering nursing and paramedics. This led India to receives maximum of its international medical tourist from USA, UK, UAE, Nepal, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Mauritius, said Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, founder and chairman, Narayana Health.