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$6.5 bn investment in pipeline for medical tourism industry

13 Nov, 2007, 1334 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: Government on Tuesday said a total investment of $6.5 billion is in the pipeline for medical tourism industry in the country.

"As much as $6.5 billion are in the pipeline for setting up affordable hospitals and budget hotels for patients' relatives in the country," Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said here while addressing the CII Health Summit.

She said so far three international parties have evinced interest in setting up 1,000-bed facilities in Delhi and NCR.

"They will meet government by the end of this year and they will also set up budget accommodation facilities for patients," she added. However, she did not disclose the names of these firms.

One lakh budget rooms and 50,000 star accommodation rooms are also coming up, the minister said without divulging the details.

Commenting on problems faced by the medical tourism industry, Soni said: "The biggest deterrent for foreign investors is the unavailability of a single window clearance system." The government is working towards making a system in which investing in India becomes easier, she added.

Also, she pointed out that the medical tourism industry faced a lot of legal implications, mainly by the doctors, while treating foreign tourists. The hospital management needs to be more transparent and ensure that profiles of doctors are easily made available, she said.

"Nobody can be fully satisfied with the treatment and legal implications do arise sometimes. We must have a proper legal framework to deal with this," Soni said

, November 14, 2007 · Faced with rising health care costs, more and more Americans are digging out their passports.

Numbers are hard to come by, but according to some estimates, as many as 500,000 Americans go abroad each year to get advanced medical care from lower-priced hospitals and clinics in countries like Mexico, India and Thailand.

Even with the costs of travel, accommodation and other expenses, getting these procedures abroad is often cheaper than getting them in the United States. The Journal of Financial Planning estimates that savings may range from 50 to 95 percent of the U.S. cost.

The medical tourism industry, as it's called, is only a few years old, and most tourists make arrangements through special agencies or the foreign hospitals themselves. As a result, it's hard to find reliable, independent information on foreign hospitals' standards, doctors' qualifications, or patients' legal protection.

With that mind, if you are considering a medical operation abroad, what do you need to know?

Q:How do I find out if a foreign hospital is accredited?

The Joint Commission, an American non-profit that accredits hospitals in the United States, has a division that does the same thing for foreign hospitals and other health-care facilities. Joint Commission International uses American medical standards to evaluate foreign facilities. The number of international entities accredited by JCI is expected to grow rapidly in the next few years, from 140 to almost 300. Most are in Asia.

Medical tourism agencies, which function much like other travel agencies, also offer information about doctors' and hospitals' credentials. However, you may want to do independent research if you rely on these agencies, since they have a financial interest in medical travel but don't actually provide health care. It's also important to realize that these agencies aren't necessarily subject to American laws.

There is no master list of foreign hospitals that accept medical tourists, but "most countries are known for a particular category of treatment," author Josef Woodman writes in Patients Beyond Borders.

"If you're seeking cosmetic surgery, Brazil, Costa Rica and South Africa rank among the most popular destinations," he writes. "Dentistry will have you exploring Mexico, Costa Rica, or Hungary. The more expensive, invasive surgeries, such as open-heart surgery or a knee replacement, make a longer trip to India, Thailand, Singapore or Malaysia well worth the cost, time and distance of travel."

Q: Once I locate a hospital, how do I check out a particular doctor's qualifications?

Usually patients work through medical tourism agencies that they find on the Internet, but you can also call a hospital directly. The agency or hospital can then arrange for you to speak with doctors or previous patients on the phone.

Dr. Ann Marie Kimball, a physician and professor at the University of Washington, offers some tips on screening a doctor:

"You can ask other people and you can ask your own physician to check out these physicians," she says. "Obviously, talent and skill are not confined to the United States. There are many talented and highly skilled surgeons working overseas who are well-trained, sometimes trained in U.S. medical schools, sometimes trained in Canadian, British, Indian medical schools."

Kimball agrees it is more difficult to check out an international surgeon. "But often, surgeons know surgeons, and if they're members of the same professional organization, they may well be aware of one another's reputation," she says.

Q. Will my insurance cover medical procedures performed abroad?

Generally, no. Although some major U.S. insurers — such as Aetna, Cigna and Humana — are increasingly considering it. And a few smaller companies do offer incentives to go abroad. Insurers are attracted to medical tourism by the low cost of these procedures — sometimes one-tenth or one-twentieth the cost of their American counterparts. But they are often more concerned that they'll face lawsuits if something goes wrong at hospital outside the United States. Call your insurer's customer service line to see if you're covered for visits to hospitals abroad.

Q: How much will it cost?

Prices vary widely. Some facilities' Web sites list the prices of various procedures they offer, but hospitals increasingly require prospective patients to fill out an online form and receive a quote, much like life insurance.

Quotes from different hospitals may be hard to compare, since the services offered vary from facility to facility. For instance, one hospital's quote may only cover the procedure itself, while another hospital's quote may include airfare, hotel, rehabilitation and follow-up care. Taxes and tariffs may also be left out. Ask an internationally based hospital for a breakdown of its quote before proceeding.

Woodman suggests a $6,000 rule: if your procedure would cost more than $6,000 in the United States, you would likely save money — possibly more than $1,000 — by traveling to a foreign hospital, including all other costs.

And don't forget about the non-financial costs: being far from home and family, taking an uncomfortable flight and missing work. If the medical procedure doesn't go exactly as planned, these may take longer than you expected. To make these risks easier to swallow, Woodman recommends, consider bringing a partner on your trip.

Q: If something goes wrong, what recourse do I have?

It depends on how you got there. The medical tourism business remains a fragmented one, with no clear authority in most cases. While Americans can rely on domestic malpractice laws and medical standards, these aren't necessarily effective in other countries.

If you paid a medical tourism agency to find a doctor, make travel arrangements and get you a hotel, they may be liable in some cases. If you didn't use an agency, you may choose to seek damages from the hospital or the doctor. But be advised that the host country may have strict laws against medical lawsuits, or it may have a legal system that takes years to hear your case.

Q: In general, what rules should I follow if I'm considering a medical trip abroad?

Do your homework and do it well in advance. Read as much as possible about the hospital and the doctor you're considering. Talk to former patients and others who can vouch for the quality of the hospital. And don't assume it will be a cakewalk.

"It's real important not to confuse it with a luxury vacation or a spa vacation," Dr. Kimball says. "It's really not a vacation. It's very serious, and to be taken with lots and lots of research, as much as you can do."

Kimball also says you should clue in your doctor, so that even if he or she disapproves of your trip, your post-operation care in the United States will go more smoothly.

And while low cost is a nice attraction, it's not all that matters.

"Looking at the finances is just a piece of the puzzle," she says. "Obviously people are more concerned about their own safety. And so I would say the best rule of thumb is, don't only go for the bottom line. Consider very carefully each step of the procedures and each step of the recovery, and whether your own doctor's going to be on your side and helpful, in terms of helping you sort out those risks, and welcoming you back to the post-operative period with good care and access. It's a complicated thing — I don't think it's to be taken lightly."

Medical Tourism - Fall Sick Overseas, Save Money

If you don’t want to fall sick on a vacation abroad, you take travel health precautions, like taking shots, organizing travel insurance, packing an emergency medical kit and getting a full checkup before you leave. Fine, but what if you want medical treatment abroad?

An increasing number of Americans are going abroad for getting both essential and non-essential medical treatment, in a trend known as medical tourism, or health tourism. The ‘tourism’ comes in after the treatment, so you can get your teeth fixed and then live it up in Costa Rica or Hungary, which are known as tooth tourism destinations. This year, over 750,000 Americans went abroad for treatment and by 2012, more than 6 million Americans are expected to do so, due to increasing health care costs and lack of insurance coverage.

The countries already famous for this include Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India in Asia, Costa Rica, Argentina and Brazil in South America and Hungary in Europe and Mexico close to home. For the record, millions of visitors from California, Texas and other parts of teh United States visit Mexico each year for treatment, especially to Tijuana and  areas in Baja California. Rates are typically between 1/8th and 1/10th of the costs at home.  Leaving aside the issue of the molars and crowns and tummy tucks, what kind of tourism can you pack into the trip after going under the scalpel? Well, a relaxing vacation on a five star sea-side resort with sandy beaches, exotic music and heavenly aromas wafting through the air is what you get, in addition to visiting the local attractions and enjoying the night life. All this comes in a combo package which includes airfare, hotel and daily expenses and treatment charges. The icing on this tourism cake is that the total cost is le ss than half of what you spend on treatment alone, in the United States. Go figure…

With American tourism and health care companies quite aware of this growing trend, states like California, Florida and Georgia are competing for medical tourists from the other states, by offering cheaper medical care combined with local tourism. Next time you find yourself in a California hotel , remember to ask them about their in-house dental surgeon.

Posted on November 13th, 2007 by PLing

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India is medical tourism destination of choice

India is the top global destination for medical tourism, according to a new market research report.

A study on the Indian Healthcare sector, conducted by RNCOS, has revealed the country's medical tourism market to be worth over $310 million, expected to rise to $2 billion by 2012.

Medical infrastructure and technology in India  are accepted to be on a par with the UK and the US and the efficient services and affordable hospital expenses make it an attractive choice for patients seeking treatment abroad.

Figures show that 120,000 overseas patients travelled to India in 2005 to receive private medical treatment and thisis expected to rise by 30 per cent.

The most common treatments that visitors seek are heart surgery, knee surgery, cosmetic surgery and dental care, procedures which patients may not be eligible for under the NHS system and which generally have long waiting lists in the UK.

RNCOS concluded: "The healthcare industry overview shows that the medical infrastructure and technology in [India] is in par with those in USA, UK and Europe.

"India can vie with some of its best hospitals and treatment centres in the world and therefore make it a favourable destination.

"Medical Tourism news : 27/07/2006

Medical Tourism Forum launched

Taj Group of Hotels, in association with T T Enterprises, recently announced the formation of a medical tourism forum in Bangalore

Friday, December 21, 2007 (12:00 IST) By Lakshmi Vishwanath | Bangalore

In order to market India as a preferred and safe healthcare destination, the Taj Group of Hotels, in association with T T Enterprises, recently launched a medical tourism forum in Bangalore. PK Mohankumar, Area Director, Bangalore, Taj Group of Hotels said, "The medical tourism sector in India offers most exciting opportunities for various stakeholders such as hospitals, hotels and travel agents. There is a need for a comprehensive but inexpensive medical programme".

According to P Varadan, Managing Director, T T Enterprises, "Several promises are made by the Government, various associations and conventions but nothing concrete occurs. We as stakeholders need to make a start somewhere."

Vivek Khanna, travel consultant, said that an integrated solution can be created using technology. He felt that a single window system can offer patients the entire gamut of services such as treatment, interaction with doctors, airline booking, hotel reservation and transport. Sivaram Rajagopalan, Principal Consultant, Shiva Consultants, spoke about accreditation of hospitals and how it will help build trust among patients coming to India for treatment.

The need for a separate medical tourism department for handling visas, marriage between hotel and hospitality industries, lobbying to the government, a separate medical tourism policy, more hotel rooms in different price categories, advanced technology, aggressive marketing, lack of good infrastructure, forging private public partnerships were among the other key topics discussed at the forum.

Medical tourism: Patients go abroad to slic

e health costs

Americans are traveling overseas for procedures, saving up to 85 percent

Article Last Updated: 12/16/2007 12:59:07 AM MS

Denver executive Victor Lazarro wants your employer to offer up this option the next time you need a medical procedure: travel abroad and get it done at a fraction of the U.S. price.

The CEO of BridgeHealth International, a fledgling com- pany that recently received a more than $1 million infusion of seed funds, Lazarro is making a push to market medical tourism directly to employers who are seeing their health premiums skyrocket.

In many cases, he said, it's cheaper for a company to waive a person's deductible and co-insurance payments and just pay to have a procedure performed - travel costs included - in countries such as Singapore, Thailand or Costa Rica.

We're focusing on this and taking it to the next level," said Lazarro, formerly the president and CEO of United Healthcare, Mountain States.

As the cost of health care rises in the U.S. and more people fall off the insurance rolls, a growing number of Americans - and companies on the cusp of not being able to offer their workers health insurance - may be going this route.

In 2006, an estimated 150,000 Americans, Canadians and Europeans packed their bags and headed to far-flung places around the world to get medical procedures such as hip replacements and root canals. This year, that number is expected to exceed 200,000, said Josef Woodman, author of the book Patients Without Borders.

I think medical travel in some ways is a mouse who roared," said Woodman, who notes these patients are now spending upward of $3 billion at overseas hospitals.
> Depending on where they go - there are now 28 countries on four continents catering to health travelers - and what procedures they have done, they're realizing savings of between 15 percent and 85 percent.

'I'd do it again'

Take Mark Pierce and his wife, Willie.

He wanted a nose job and neck lift; she wanted a breast reduction, face lift, neck lift and liposuction. But the surgeries, which aren't covered by most insurance plans, would have cost in the ballpark of $80,000, Mark Pierce said.

;There was no way we could have done that," he said.

Through a company called MedRetreat, the Modesto, Calif., couple went to Malaysia in May to have the surgeries done by a U.S. board-certified doctor who at one time practiced in Chicago. The results were good, and the price was right, Mark Pierce said.

The Pierces' surgeries, plus their airfare, lodging, ground transportation and meals, cost $20,000.

When the opportunity presented itself," he said, "we jumped at it because we knew what we wanted to do."

About 70 percent of health travelers, like the Pierces, get cosmetic surgery, said Patrick Marsek, MedRetreat's managing director.

But that's changing as more people find it's perhaps the only way they can afford other kinds of procedures, he said.

Eileen Clemenzi, a Vero Beach, Fla., hair stylist, traveled to Malaysia in August 2006 for a hip replacement. Her procedure, travel included, cost $11,000.

I'd do it again in a split second," said the 58-year-old, who is on her feet all day working on clients.

When asked how much money she saved, Clemenzi, who is uninsured, said, "I didn't check any doctor in the U.S. I don't have $50,000."

Good care, good price

Clemenzi, like the Pierces, said she got good health care at state-of-the-art facilities. With a few exceptions, that's generally the experience of most health travelers, Woodman said.

That's because a growing number of hospitals used by medical tourism companies are getting accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI), an off-shoot of The Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that evaluates and accredits U.S. hospitals.

As recently as four years ago, Woodman said, only about 40 foreign hospitals had JCI's stamp of approval. This year, however, 130 are accredited - a number expected to double over the next two years.

That should give any American customer quite a bit of comfort that there are hospitals that have the 'good housekeeping' seal of approval . . . by an American accrediting agency," he said.

Right now, patients interested in health travel seek out the services of companies such as MedRetreat on their own, Marsek said. But that's poised to change.

MedRetreat, like HealthBridge International, is rapidly moving toward a business-to-business model, working directly with U.S. employers to offer their workers the option of going overseas for health care.

The potential is huge," Woodman said. "There is no doubt in my mind there will be plans offered, there will be coverage. All of the big folks are watching it very carefully."

'Floodgates will open'

HealthBridge International's Lazarro said he is already making his pitch to companies around the country, though he declined to say who and where.

Companies offering health travel as an alternative, he said, could spare their employees major withdrawals from their health savings accounts - and keep the companies' premiums down.

Lazarro said he hopes to send the company's first patients abroad in the first quarter of 2008.

But Marsek, of MedRetreat, believes that's a lofty goal. That's because there are a multitude of issues that have yet to be sorted out.

The first issue is liability," he said. "They [companies] want to make sure they're protected by U.S. jurisdiction in the case of a malpractice claim."

There are also treatment issues, such as who handles a patient's follow-up care in the U.S., and the effective transfer ofmedical documents.

And the concept is going to have to be sold. One South Carolina company, Blue Ridge Paper Products, tried to send an employee to India for rotator cuff and gall bladder surgery, Marsek said.

But the United Steelworkers union intervened, sending letters of protest to the Senate and House committees with jurisdiction over health care. Blue Ridge canceled its plans.

Marsek said these issues, however, are not insurmountable. He projects that by late 2008 or early 2009, more companies will have worked out the bugs.

The floodgates will open," he said. "You won't have enough companies like MedÂRetreat to handle it."

Employers increasingly tapping medical tourism for cost savings

Monday, November 06, 2006 by: Jessica Fraser

(NewsTarget) About 500,000 Americans traveled overseas last year to undergo surgeries that cost two to three times more in the United States, according to the National Coalition on Health Care.

Medical tourism has taken off in the last few years, with American employer-sponsored health insurance premiums skyrocketing 87 percent over the last six years. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that American family health coverage currently costs about $11,500 a year, with workers spending nearly $3,000 out of their own pockets annually.

Recently, 60-year-old Oklahoma resident Dodie Gilmore became one of the first Americans to be sent overseas for surgery by her employer. Gilmore needed hip surgery, but found that the procedure would cost up to $40,000 if performed in the United States, which her privately purchased health plan would likely not cover.

Gilmore researched overseas hospitals, and found that the Max Super Specialty Hospital in India would charge just $7,000 for the procedure. Gilmore's boss offered to foot the bill, which totaled $12,000, including hotel and airfare.

According to Arnold Milstein, chief physician at New York's Mercer Health & Benefits, medical tourism is "just one of the many ways in which our world is flattening. Many companies see it as a natural extension of the competition they've faced in other aspects of their business," he said.

Though some companies have shied away from medical tourism for employees -- such as Blue Ridge Paper Products in North Carolina, which recently abandoned plans to send workers overseas for cost-saving surgeries after United Steelworkers union objected, citing possible risks -- others are embracing the idea.

United Group Programs of Boca Raton, Fla., which sells self-insurance policies to small businesses, recently began offering a plan that sends patients to Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok for expensive procedures. Blue Shield and Health Net of California also both offer low-cost policies that allow members to receive medical treatments in Mexico.

The Chicago-based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which accredits American hospitals, has accredited roughly 100 foreign hospitals, including Bumrungrad in Thailand, five in India and 11 in Singapore

Medical tourism adopted by businesses; employees sent offshore for cost-

saving surgical procedures

Tuesday, August 01, 2006 by: NewsTarget

NewsTarget) As medical costs in the United States continue to rise, more and more employers are sending employees in need of costly surgeries overseas to receive treatment.

A number of U.S. employers that fund their own health insurance plans have started sending their employees to countries such as India and Thailand for operations that can costs tens of thousands of dollars more in the United States.

"The hospitals have a monopoly," says North Carolina-based Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. benefits director Bonnie Blackley. "They don't care, because where else are patients going to go? Well, we are going to go to India."

Blue Ridge -- just one of several U.S. companies offering "medical tourism" medical plans -- will send one of its employees to a New Delhi hospital next month for a pair of urgeries that will save the company $10,000 over what the procedures would cost in America.

Tens of thousands of Americans have begun traveling overseas for costly medical procedures in recent years, since the savings can be significant. For example, Arthur Milstein, chief physician at HR consulting giant Mercer Health & Benefits, says a coronary bypass surgery at Apollo Hospitals in India costs about $6,500 -- compared to the same surgery that costs an average of $60,400 in California.

Hospital associations in the United States say medical tourism will only make healthcare price problems worse, as those who travel abroad are often the "best-paying" customers who help keep hospitals afloat in the face of rising costs and expensive government regulations.

However, many Americans have no other choice but to travel abroad for surgeries they would otherwise be unable to afford.

"America has the best medical treatment," says Rupak Acharya, founder of a Malibu startup insurance company specializing in medical tourism for major surgeries. "Problem is, much of it is inaccessible."

"This accelerating trend of medical tourism," adds Mike Adams, a medical indust watchdog and critic of conventional medicine, "is the free market's way of overcoming the anti-competitive, monopoly practices that have now become accepted as standard in the U.S. medical industry. Despite the industry's best efforts to exploit patients by limiting their options, smart consumers are realizing that U.S. medical costs are, indeed, a sham, and that they can get the same level of care -- plus a free vacation to Asia -- for a fraction of what they'd spend in the U.S."

May 3, 2007 7:35 am US/Central

(WFRV)YAKIMA, WA Medical Tourism Used To Just Be For People Who Wanted Plastic Surgery.

Now.. More And More Americans Are Going Overseas For Routine Treatments.

For Many.. It's An Economic Choice.

Cheaper Prices For Procedures They Can't Afford In The U-S.

Medical Tourism/Yakima, WA

Ward Styner Sells Used Cars In Yakima Washington.

His Employer Doesn't Offer Health Insurance.. So When He Needed Surgery To Replace A Worn-Out Hip.. He Knew He'd Have To Pay For It Himself.

Ward Styner/Hip Replacement Patient

"The Alternatives In My Life Were Either I Replace My Hip Or I Live In A Pain That I Can't Bear And I'm Done Working And My Family Falls Apart And You Know I Didn't Have Very Many Alternatives."

Ward Says The Price Tag For Hip Surgery At Home. Was 65-Thousand Dollars.. A Price He Couldn't Afford.

In Desperation.. He Turned To The Internet.

Ward Styner/Hip Replacement Patient

"And Up Comes Several Hundred Websites Talking About Medical Tourism, Which I'd Never Heard Of."

Ann Marie Kimball, MD/University of Washington

"There's More And More People Are Going Across International Boundaries For Medical Care, Which Is, Of Course, What Medical Tourism Is And So Definitely, The Trend Is Increasing."

Ann Marie Kimball Is A Global Health Expert.. And The Author Of "Risky Trade."

She Says There Are Few Studies To Review On Medical Tourism.

Ann Marie Kimball, MD/University of Washington

"We Have One Group Of People Which Is Your Doctor And Medical Association Which Is Definitely Going To Say, Oh, No Don't Do That Because Of Self-Interest As Well As Concerns About Your Welfare. And Another Group Of People Who Are Going To Say, Oh Please Come To Thailand To Get Your Surgery Because They Want Your Business. So The Consumer Is Really Caught Without An Independent Look At What The Outcomes Actually Are From This."

Ward Has No Regrets.

He Used Med-Retreat And Traveled To Malaysia Three Months Ago.

His Total Bill For His New Hip Was 15-Thousand.. 500 Dollars.. Including Hotel.. Airfare.. Hospital.. Surgery.. Doctor.. Fees.. And Physical Therapy For Three Weeks.

Ward Styner/Hip Replacement Patient

"I Was Treated Like Gold. I'm A Special Patient. The Hospital Was Very Modern, Very Clean, And Very Friendly."

When Traveling Overseas For Medical Care, Keep In Mind The Risks.. For Infection.. From Others On The Airplane.. Hospital And Surgery Suites.. Even Food And Water In Your Destination Country.

For Complications.. If There's A Problem.. You Have Few Options For A Second Opinion.

And Legal Considerations.. Medical Malpractice Laws Are Different In Every Country.

Ward Is Back At Work Pain Free.. And Convinced He Got A Good Deal Overseas.

Companies Like Medretreat Give You A Full Rundown Of All The Expenses Before You Go.

Medretreat Also Offers A Money-Back Guarantee.. Minus Travel Expenses.. If You Get To Your Destination And It's Not What You Expected.

Not All Companies Do That.. So Read The Fine Print.

Medical Tourism To India Hurts US Hospitals

That medical tourism is widely prevalent is yesterday's news. Today's news is that many US insurers and hospitals have taken note of the fact that India is fast emerging as a most wanted destination for elective surgeries. To stem the tide as it were, they are embarking on aggressive marketing strategies to make sure that the average American gets his surgeries done in-house

It is reported that 1.5 lakh medical tourists went to India last year. This number is expected to surge by 15 percent this year and by 2012 it could net $2.3 billion annually for India. Richard Merli, managing editor, Health Care Insider, KPMG notes that consumers in the low to middle income brackets may be dismissed by American hospitals since they lack insurance, "But industry observers say that the exotic locales and prospect of a vacation is attracting many wealthy patients to have elective surgeries done abroad." But he adds that if a procedure were to fail, Americans have no alternative except to keep quiet and cannot seek legal redress as they can back home. "All the protection afforded by the US health care system — board-certified physicians, the FDA and a legal system that supports patient rights — are void as soon as one steps out of the country," said Saul Helman, Pharmaceuticals Practice, MD, KPMG. But Anne Marie Moncure, MD, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in Delhi disagrees and says that the same techniques and care are used in India as in the US, "Every year, 98,000 patients die in US hospitals due to medical negligence and three to four times that number is left permanently-disabled," she points out. Indian hospitals feel that if they are getting the same care at a lesser cost, then patients will naturally look at the greener grass, something that American hospitals are noting with concern

India – Haven Of Medical Tourism

Among the Asian countries, India has become a major medical tourism destination, as it offers not only cheap but also sophisticated healthcare services, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said Wednesday

"We are getting people in thousands from various parts of the world with most of them coming for bypass surgeries, dental and orthopaedic treatment, and even for plastic surgeries," Ramadoss told IANS here.

The Indian government would soon identify a number of multi-specialty hospitals and expert doctors to cater to the increasing flow of overseas patients.

"The task of identifying hospitals and specialist doctors would be entrusted to a new body called the Accreditation Foundation of India," the minister said.

"The foundation would be of immense help to foreign patients to get treatment as per their needs," he added.

The decision to set up the foundation was taken after India witnessed a rush of patients from the US, Britain, Africa, and the Middle East countries seeking advanced healthcare facilities.

"Medical treatment in India is comparatively very cheap and fast, besides the country today having some of the best doctors in the world and also advanced technologies available," Ramadoss maintained.

"The cost of a bypass surgery in India would be just about one-sixth of the expenses if the same was done in the UK or other countries," he added.

The minister was here to launch the National Rural Health Mission for the region.

"Bypass surgeries apart, hip and knee replacements are fields where we are getting lot of European patients," Ramdoss said

There are, however no official estimates to the number of foreign patients visiting India. The cheap healthcare facilities apart, people from abroad, especially the US and Britain, are flocking to hospitals in India as there is virtually no waiting time involved.

"For instance, a person in the UK needing a dental check-up needs to remain in the queue for 14 months, eight months for a bypass surgery, and about 75 days for an MRI," Ramadoss said.

"But here in India one can get the best of treatment as and when it happens without any waiting time. Healthcare is a priority sector for us," he asserted.

The boom in overseas patients has prompted scores of Indian doctors working abroad to return home.

"Doctors are so well paid here that many of them have since returned from the US and other places. They are getting even more than what they were earning in say places like Australia, New Zealand, the UK or even the US," the minister said.

To cash in on the boom, the Indian government has decided to further encourage the concept of medical tourism.

"We have seen many people coming to India for treatment and then travelling to places of interests soon after their medical checkups," Ramadoss said. "The country is bound to benefit as it is expected to generate lot of direct and indirect employment opportunities. The government would facilitate and help both tourists and the hospitals to make medical tourism a huge success," he added

keen on fixing their teeth for a better smile.

Interestingly, some of this clientele comprises people who come here for meditation courses, some are regular travelers, while several others come back for more treatment once they have had a pleasant experience.

A woman from Germany suffered from a badly formed jaw, says Vineeta Chugh

INDIA HOT SPOT FOR DE

NTAL NIRVANA

[14 Feb, 2005 l 2124 hrs IST l Kalpana Jain lTIMES NEWS NETWORK

NEW DELHI: Meditation seems to gel well with medication: designer smiles, fresh crowns and firm implants promise a refashioned nirvana for an increasing number of people from foreign shores as dentistry gets a new edge in India with state-of-the art equipment and multi-speciality centres.

India seems to be emerging as a new destination for people who want specialised and expensive dental treatments such as root canal, crown replacement and even for those, who runs a multi-speciality dental centre in South Delhi. She had problems chewing her food, as her lower teeth would hit her palette. She is now among the regulars at the clinic as she combines leisure and sight- seeing with her dental treatment. An American TV anchor too landed up at this clinic to get a smile that would suit his face. "He wanted to reveal more of his teeth," adds Chugh.

Predictably, what draws them to India is quality care at a fraction of the cost. In addition, they get that personalised touch from senior specialists which they may not get in their own countries, say the dentists.

Clearly, none of them come here for the routine cleaning and dental fillings. Mostly, these are people who want treatment for facial deformities, says Ashok Dabir, an oral facial maxillo surgeon at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. What could well cost five thousand US dollars is not more than a few thousand in India, says Dabir. Other than Indians living abroad, the Europeans and Americans also find India to be a good destination, he says.

These experts emphasise that dental clinics require some of the most stringent infection control practices as they could well spread deadly infections such as hepatitis and even HIV. "Our equipment is so specialised that not just needles but tubings that take air and water to the patient's mouth are sterilised," says dentist Rajiv K Chugh. In a documented case of HIV transmission from a dental clinic, the tubings were found to be responsible.

Specialists agree that not all dental clinics adhere to such strict hygienic practices. "It's always word of mouth," says dentist Poonam Batra, who gets people from the US, France, Britain and just other travellers to India. "Our treatments don't lack anything. The highlight of my practice is hygiene and this is noticed.

MEDICAL TOURISM WITH A NATAL TWIST

[5 Dec, 2004 l 0349 hrs IST l Shobha John l TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

NEW DELHI: Incredible India, Amazing India. It could well be a slogan for India as a destination for medical tourism too. But there's one kind of medico-tourism few talk about — medical termination of pregnancy. And the 'tourist'is mainly from the Gulf.

The reason is simple: Muslim countries don't allow abortion. Result: Indian women residing there, as also some of their nationals, have to look elsewhere to get it done. And what better place than Apna Bharat?

The patients come from the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and even from Afghanistan, say doctors. Pakistan? Very few. "If the woman already has two or three children or is in a precarious state of health, we go ahead and do it. Besides, if I don't do it, someone else will," says a top doctor here.

For most, abortion in India is easy come, easy go. Working women prefer to do it over their weekend — Friday-Saturday. They fix up beforehand with a gynaecologist in India, and catch a flight on Thursday evening. The next day after an ultrasound, they are ready for the surgery, which takes six to seven minutes. After recuperating, they catch the flight back home on Saturday and resume duty on Sunday.

Doctors in Kerala say that for most patients anonymity is important. "Many prefer to get abortions done in big cities like Delhi or Mumbai. Most of my cases are either old patients or their relatives," says a Thiruvananthapuram-based doctor. Nina Jacob*, a resident of Dubai and mother of two, says, "I would have preferred to get it done in the security of my hometown but people would have been unnecessarily curious. So I got it done in Delhi where I have a close relative.’'The cost of surgery varies from Rs 3,000-5,000.

For some patients, abortion is a matter of survival too. Lisha Adam*, a nurse from Kuwait, says, "If we nurses get pregnant and deliver within a year of joining a job here, there's every possibility of our services being terminated." "And that's tough on those who have flown the coop for better prospects abroad.

Though there are two methods to abort — through medicines and surgery — most working women from the Gulf prefer the latter. "It’s quick, no manhours are lost and they can be sure that the foetus has been removed completely," says another doctor. This is not so in cases where medicines are given to abort — one is not sure if the abortion has indeed taken place till an ultrasound a fortnight later confirms it. Most women in India prefer this as they can come for follow-ups to the same doctor.

Women from the Gulf, especially the educated ones, come during the early stages of pregnancy (six weeks). "If the second trimester has started (16 weeks), we have to be careful — I prefer to give medicines rather than do surgery because there could be complications," says another doctor.