The medical tourism industry has steadily been increasing over the past few years. And countries like India, Thailand, Brazil and Panama etc. are apparently benefiting from the same. India in particular, has seen a large inflow oftourists who opt to visit the country for both medical and travel related reasons. And the growth of medical tourism in the country has aided them to achieve both on one visit itself.
So if you are on the lookout for a medical tourism destination, here are 5 reasons why India should feature at the top of your list.
Low Medical Costs
Face it! Most people opt for medical tourism because they cannot afford the high treatment costs in their countries. And India ranks among the top destinations that offer the best medical treatments for the lowest costs.
People opting to get treated in India can pay just 40% of the original cost that they would have to pay for the same treatment in countries like the UK or US. For instance, a heart surgery in India would only cost $6000 when it can easily cost over $30,000 in the US. Similarly, a bone marrow transplant procedure in India would only cost $26000 while it can easily cost over $250000 in the US.
NABH/JCI Accreditation and World Class Healthcare Facilities
Ever since India’s Medicare sector was privatized, a large number of world class corporate health care centers, hospitals, equipment, treatments and facilities have sprung up in the country. Most of the hospitals in the country catering to tourists have been accredited by either the NABH or JCI, organizations responsible for accrediting many hospitals in the US. This accreditation ensures that these hospitals follow stringent measures while ensuring the quality of its medical tests, procedures and results.
Added to this is the fact that India houses one of the biggest pharmaceutical industries on earth, producing plenty of drugs and exporting the same to several other countries.
Highly Experienced and Skilled Doctors
The high quality education system of India is responsible for at least 30000 medical staff who graduate from the country’s top notch medical universities every year. This has made India home to some of the most skilled doctors, surgeons and medical professionals on the planet.
Even complicated surgeries like heart transplants are carried out with ease in India which has also shown its growing expertise in other fields like joint replacement, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, oncology, neurosurgery, eye treatments and gynecology etc.
The professionals are also backed by a strong team of technicians, nurses, attendants, nutritionists and medical coordinators, most of whom have international exposure and are proficient in English.
Immediate Attention and Treatment
In stark contrast to certain hospitals in the UK and US which are synonymous with long patient queues and delayed treatments (first come first serve basis), several Indian hospitals catering to tourists offer priority treatment wherein patients who needed to be treated urgently get immediate treatment.
Several organizations that arrange these medical visits also make it easier for the patient by arranging everything from the passports, travel tickets, visa and other necessary documents to even the doctor’s appointment beforehand. This in turn minimizes the waiting time to a great extent.
Indian Tourism
This may sound negligible, but is still a valid point as to why many people prefer India for their medical treatments. Considering the fact that medical tourism allows you to combine your medical and travel plans into one package, India has some of the most fascinating tourist destinations on the planet for individuals to explore and enjoy!
