Medical Tourism is the travel of people to another country for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment in that country.
As the world population becomes more aware of healthcare options and as quality healthcare rises as a priority, patients are bound to pursue cross border healthcare. Unavailability of quality and affordable healthcare in many countries across the world creates the need to look beyond borders.
The primary reasons for medical tourism, therefore, are high quality healthcare, specialized treatment options, immediate service opportunity for travel coupled with affordability.
The below factors have made way for medical Treatment value travel as an attractive and efficient solution:-
1. Affordability and cost effectiveness: Low cost of medical procedures is a major benefit received by people travelling across borders for medical treatments.
2. High quality healthcare: Medical services will typically be provided by internationally accredited hospitals and trained doctors.
3. Immediate service: Possibility of immediate access to health services, especially for patients that require urgent care.
4. Improved communication services: – Patients can schedule surgery procedures and seek consultation from doctors via the internet or over the phone.
5. Anonymity: – Individuals can go on a vacation for their medical treatment, and avoid questions from friends and relatives about required surgeries.
6. Travel opportunities:- Medical tourists, especially those seeking dental care,cosmetic care, etc. can enjoy the opportunity to visit new countries.
7. Affluent patients:- Affluent patients demand technically advanced treatment options that is not available. These requirements are fulfilled by medical tourism destinations.
Emergence of India as topmost destination for Global Patients
India is on threshold of a healthcare revolution and emerging as the topmost destination for medical tourists. India is now being put up on international map as a heaven for those seeking quality and affordable healthcare, as Indian corporate hospitals and doctors are at par, if not better than the best hospitals and doctors in the world.
Medical Treatment in India is one of the best options available to people across the globe. It is gaining popularity in India & is recognized as a global health destination at present because foreign patients travel India in search of low-cost & world-class medical treatment. The huge demand for cost effective specialized care is coming from the developed and developing countries.
India’s healthcare services cost far less compared to even Thailand, Singapore and many other healthcare destinations in the world. India is one of the cheapest healthcare tourism hubs in the world especially for advanced life saving surgeries and is now getting recognized for complex medical treatments in addition to wellness, Ayurveda and yoga.
The main reasons for the growing popularity of India in medical treatment are:
Value for money.
Unmatched expertise. Highly qualified doctors with world-class expertise to handle all kind of cases, simple to complex.
Quality treatment by well-equipped, organized & NABH & JCI accredited hospitals.
Affordable cost of treatment (Lowest cost as compared to other countries).
No language barrier.
Largest pharmaceutical industry.
Globally accepted paramedical talent.
Zero waiting time.
People rush India for 5 Reasons– Price, service, quality, availability (cutting edge treatments) & tourism. In short, Medical Tourism in India = World Class Treatment + Holiday + Big Savings. India receives medical tourists from across the globe, however developing and underdeveloped countries form a major portion of the pie. Currently, patients travelling to India are from western countries like USA, UK, Canada; Gulf countries like Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen, Bahrain; African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Congo; SAARC countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan etc.
Majorly the patients are travelling for complex treatments in Cardiac, Orthopedics, Cancer, Urology, Spine, Neurosurgery, Infertility and organ transplant.
It is estimated that 32, 00,000 patients will travel to India for treatment by 2015.
Rwandan patients already travelling abroad and to India for treatment:
For a long time, the Rwandan Government has been referring patients abroad for them to receive treatment that the health care system in Rwanda cannot provide. There is no exact figure of how many patients go abroad each year for medical tourism, but it is clear that it is quite an extensive number. Sometimes the Ministry of Health helps pay for patients, especially children with chronic cardiac or renal diseases, to go to India or Belgium for treatment. This happens when the doctors cannot treat the patient in the country. Patients who can afford to pay themselves often seek medical treatment in Kenya, South Africa, India or Belgium. Due to visa issues, it is now very difficult for Rwandans to go to South Africa. Rwandan private patients are also travelling to India for seeking quality healthcare solutions at affordable prices.