Medical tourism refers to the practice of people traveling long distances (usually across national borders) to obtain medical services coupled with an inexpensive vacation. This is not a new concept and references from historical documents have mentioned people travelling to mineral and hot water springs during the Bronze and Middle ages for medical benefits.
The healthcare industry is the world’s second largest business after retail. With increasing standards in healthcare and the need for affordable treatment, the Asian market has become a goldmine for medical tourism. The medical tourism market revenue worldwide is expected to reach USD 100 billion by 2012, with Asia being the major contributor. India is an attractive healthcare destination expected to bring in between USD 11.3-22.6 billion into the country by year 2012, according to a study conducted by CII McKinsey.
Medical tourism in India accounts for 3-5% of total healthcare delivery market and attracts patients from a lot of countries including USA, UK, Canada, and South Africa. India has immense potential for future growth and development in this sector. Some of the major advantages that India has for medical tourism to flourish are as follows:
Cost: There is a cost difference of approximately 200-800% between healthcare services provided in India and most other countries. Complicated surgeries and treatment are made possible at almost 1/10th the cost of developed countries. Due to strong generic drugs business and low cost of drug development, India offers low medication cost. According to a study conducted by American Medical Association, the cost of heart bypass surgery in the US is approximately US$ 130,000 as compared to US$ 10,000 in India.
Quality: India has the advantage of having world class medical facilities which includes state of the art hospitals, a large pool of trained doctors, dedicated nurses, and well trained paramedics. Indian medical professionals also possess competent English speaking skills that come in handy when interacting with patients from all over the world.
Hospitals: Involvement of private sector and increased competition has revolutionized the Indian healthcare sector. Private players like Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Fortis Health Care Ltd., and SRL Ranbaxy, are expanding in India and abroad through mergers and acquisitions.
Pharmaceutical industry: The pharmaceutical industry in India is growing rapidly. India also has a very strong generic drugs industry which has resulted in cheap and affordable medicines. Research and development is also improving in the country, which holds promise for the future of the healthcare industry in India.
Holistic (alternative) medical services: Ayurveda, the traditional healthcare system of India, yoga, and spiritual healing are fast becoming popular in the West, which attract many medical tourists to the country.
Popular tourist destination: India is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, renowned for its historical and cultural diversity. It is ranked in the top five favorite destinations worldwide.
Despite strong potential, there are some areas that Indian authorities needs to work on to further improve the quality of healthcare. Some key improvement areas include:
Infrastructure: Infrastructure is a major concern affecting India as a destination. Some drawbacks include lack of proper flight connectivity to all destinations, bad roads, safe food and water availability etc. Also, target oriented infrastructure investment would prove helpful.
Accreditation: Many hospitals in India still do not have international accreditation which would make them eligible for coverage with foreign insurance agencies. This would see a surge in the number of patients willing to come to India for treatment.
Industry issues: There is a need for standardized education in medical institutions and regulations to curb quacks. Also, doctors and other healthcare professionals need to be trained on interpersonal and communication skills. Hygiene is also a major point of concern for patients and steps need to be taken to increase awareness among medical attendants.
Marketing: India as a safe and trustworthy destination for both medical and tourism purposes is still unknown to many and this needs to be promoted on a large platform. This could be achieved by exhibitions, road shows, and advertisements in targeted countries.
Need of the hour: India would also benefit if it could streamline immigration process for medical visitors. A negative perspective towards bureaucracy also needs to be addressed. Also, joint ventures with overseas companies would help in the exchange of knowledge and expertise.
Even though India offers many opportunities for medical tourism growth, there are aspects which need immediate attention. For the future growth of medical tourism in India, the healthcare and tourism sectors need to grow in tandem. Brain drain also needs to be arrested and reversed. Better infrastructure, world class medical facilities, and medical insurance reforms would help make India the leader in medical tourism.
Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in April, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
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