India –top destination for medical tourism 19 Aug 2013

Since the technological advances have developed many sectors that were previously available prepoderent for the resident population of a country. Increased mobility in terms of transportation and new ways of communication began to rapidly change the face of the world in a different way from how we know it.

The changes were not left waiting nor in the health sector, medical tourism phenomenon is the most telling. If it was unthinkable before to can treat in foreign countries or such a travel was reserved only for the very wealthy, because the services were expensive, today we are witnessing a slightly contrary, when traveling in medical purpose is reserved for a larger segment of population. We can say that medical services were turned into so that the attention of tourists who are also patients is focused not only on the fame of the doctors, but also on the price.

Since 1990, India's healthcare sector has increased from year to year, managed to reach the one of the main terminal of health tourism. About this country can even say that is a pioneer in this field, especially in terms of transplant tourism. Regarding the success of this destination testify both the number of tourists attracted annually and revenues made in recent decades: 190 billion dollars.

What makes the tourists to be attracted to India for medical purposes are some advantages enjoyed by the country in general and the health sector in particular:  the medical staff is a well known of English, practiced medicine includes a part of alternative medicine, often very searched by Westerners. Also there are many medical centers equipped to the highest standards of technology and last but not least is offered the best service at the lowest cost.

What does  it mean the lowest cost? Well, for example, intervention cardiology intervention which  costs in USA between $ 40,000 and $ 60,000, in India only costs $ 3000 - $ 6000, far less than in other destinations such as Singapore - $ 30,000 or Thailand - $ 12,000 - $ 15,000.

Bibliography:

  1. Indrajit, H., ” Medical tourism: its potential impact on the health workforce and health systems in India”, Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, http://heapol.oxfordjournals.org/
  2. Bristow, R., ”Sustainable medical tourism in Costa Rica”, TOURISM REVIEW, VOL. 66 NO. 1/2 2011
  3. Mainil, T., ”The discourse of medical tourism in the media”, TOURISM REVIEW, VOL. 66 NO. 1/2 2011, pp. 31-44