It may surprise you but India today is beckoning a new kind of tourist – the medical tourist.  This tourist has two goals: one, to be treated at India’s new corporate hospitals and two, to see the country.  This is a heady mix. The tourist not only gets cured but also comes back fresh and relaxed after an exotic vacation. The best part of such a vacation is the cost.  A heart surgery in the US may make you poorer by anything between $ 50,000 to $125,000 depending upon the kind of procedure, the hospital where it is conducted, and the pre-and post-operative care.  In India, a similar surgery will cost you $ 7,000 on the lower side and $ 25,000 on the higher side. The low cost does not mean that the quality of treatment is sub-standard.  On the contrary, India’s corporate hospitals can be compared with the best in the world.  They are equipped with state of the art equipment and have highly qualified and experienced doctors.  They are supported by equally professional hospital staff that take care of the pre-and-post operative needs of the patient.  The medical vacation particularly suits those Americans who don’t have medical insurance or are insured for a low sum, and may find it impossible to be treated for serious cardiac problems.  A medical vacation to India is a perfect answer for such Americans.  They don’t have to worry about costs.   Besides costs, medical tourists have one more reason to visit India.  This is the waiting time in American hospitals - invariably, there is a long waiting list for operations and in some cases, it may take months to get time from a specialist.  So, even if you have money you can’t get the right treatment.  This is not so in India.  You can get time from the busiest of specialists, at short notice.  What’s more, this meeting can be arranged by the travel agency that is organizing your medical vacation.  There is no need for you to make calls to the offices of busy doctors, and try to seek out-of-turn appointments.

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The most popular treatment that is sought in India is surgery for cardio-vascular, orthopedic and spinal problems.  This is followed by cosmetic surgery, liposuction, dental and IVF procedures.  Non-invasive treatments like Ayurveda and Naturopathy are also popular.  In fact, scores of medical tourists visit centers that specialize in Indian medicine.

The growing popularity of medical tourism has led to the birth of a cottage industry around it.  You now have specialized travel agencies that arrange everything - from pick ups at airports, appointments with doctors, surgeries at top hospitals, to food and accommodation for family members accompanying the patient. 

To make things simpler and easier, these agencies have set up offices in different parts of the world where their employees guide and brief medical tourists on all aspects of their treatment and holiday.  Most of these agencies also have websites that makes it easy for patients to reach them, and work out a treatment-cum-holiday plan.

Generally, the first step is sending the medical report of the patient to the doctor for appraisal.  This is followed by e-mails, chats or videoconferencing between the patient and the doctor until both sides are satisfied.  The doctor gets to understand the ailment, and the patient builds confidence in the doctor.  The agencies also arrange a face to face meeting with the doctor for those patients who are not satisfied with e-mails or phone discussions.  Great care is taken by the agencies to ensure that the medical history of the patient remains confidential throughout.

The next step is working out a travel itinerary.  This is drawn up carefully so as to cause the least inconvenience to the patient.  Once the patient arrives in India, he or she is assigned an assistant who is fluent in English as well as the local language.  These assistants then work as the hospital/travel guide for the patients and their family members. 

Some agencies even provide a cell phone or a wireless-enabled laptop to family members accompanying a patient to help them keep in touch with their friends and relatives.  Patients can even ask for a personal nurse to take care of them once the operation is over.  This is absolute luxury, and unthinkable in the US unless you are very rich.

In fact, it is this personal care that makes hospitalization in India all the more enjoyable.  The patient is literally treated like royalty.  Even the family members accompanying a patient can enroll in courses like yoga, meditation, classical music or Indian dance.  These keep them engaged while the patient is undergoing treatment or recuperating.

Once the treatment is over and the patient has recovered these agencies then work out a full holiday plan for them.  They take care of hotel bookings, airport pick ups and transfers, visits to historical places etc. according to the package that has been worked out.

This makes the entire experience extremely memorable.  The feedback given by these tourists encourages more Americans and Europeans to plan a medical vacation in India.  According to a study conducted by McKinsey and the Confederation of Indian Industry, India’s earnings from medical tourism are likely to reach 2 billion dollars by 2012 from the current 33 million dollars.

You can therefore expect more Indian hospitals to upgrade their facilities.  The same can be expected of travel agencies specializing in medical tourism.  They will try to lure the medical tourist with more value added services for less cost.  This will make a medical vacation in India even more attractive.

So, if you are suffering from an ailment that requires specialized treatment you should look at India as a possible destination.  You will not only get cured, but also have a nice, fun-filled holiday at a fraction of the cost that you would otherwise incur in the US. 
 
 

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