Description:
As the Indian healthcare sector develops, the new term "'Medical Tourism" emerges whereby people from various parts of the globe are visiting India to seek medical and relaxation treatments.
"Tourists choose India because of the key opportunities in our healthcare sector; efficient infrastructure, and state-of-the-art technology," one leading surgeon told KUNA Thursday.
The most common treatments sought are heart surgery, knee transplants, cosmetic surgery dental care, and indigenously developed relaxation methods.
Today, India's medical tourism market is valued at over USD 310 million with 100,000 patients coming to the country every year, and the market is predicted to grow to USD 2 billion by 2012.
"Medical tourists choose India because of the key opportunities in our healthcare sector; efficient infrastructure, and state-of-the-art technology. The health insurance market and national medical systems here are well developed, which is convenient for visitors from the West and the Middle East. They also find the hospital expenses affordable compared to those in Western countries," renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. N. R. Burman told KUNA.
"The medical infrastructure and technology in this country is at par with that in the USA, UK, and Europe. India can compete with some of the best hospitals and treatment centres in the world, which makes it a favorable destination," Dr. Burman noted.
India has an international reputation of being a knowledge-based economy. "With an available talent base of over 500,000 doctors and 700,000 nursing professionals, India can provide medical and health care of international standard at comparatively low cost," Dr. Burman argued.
Southern states of India, especially Kerala, developed health tourism as one of the products for tourism promotion. Kerala is also the cradle of 'Ayurveda' (a traditional form of healing developed in India). Ayurveda is very well marketed in Kerala in terms of medical tourism and scores of tourists are visiting the state every year to get a feel of this.
Many surgical procedures are available in India at one-tenth the cost of those in developed countries and there is no waiting period for elective surgery. India's pharmaceutical sector also has done commendable work in bringing low-cost essential drugs to the market. |
NEWSROOM - Latest Updates
