Hepatology in India

Capitalising on its highly skilled and trained professionals, India has steadily risen in the ranks of premium healthcare service providers in the world. So much so that according to a report published by the Ministry of Commerce, the medical tourism industry is expected to reach $9 billion in 2020; so much so that the Ministry of Tourism reports a 166 per cent jump on the number of people entering India on medical visas – from 75, 688 in 2014 to 201,333 in 2016. One branch of medicine whose rise in India has paralleled this rise in medical tourism, almost as if the two are dependent on one another, is hepatology. A number of specialised hospitals in India with highly skilled and trained professionals are well equipped not only to deal with domestic patients, the country also sees a regular influx of medical tourists from countries such as Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iraq, Maldives, Oman, Yemen, etc. Affordable treatment packages have also attracted patients from developed nations such as the US, UK, Germany, as well.

Greater health awareness coupled with ease of access to corresponding healthcare services have contributed to the growth of the Indian healthcare industry, with the sector expected to grow to US$ 280 billion by 2020. It is important to note that as much as globalisation and the increase in international tourism have contributed to the exponential growth of this sector, there have also been several notable domestic factors that have contributed to this growth.

● A number of specialised hospitals – from BLK Super Speciality Hospital in the north to Gleneagles Global Hospital in the south – offer complex procedures – from gastrointestinal bleeding from portal hypertension related to liver damage, to systemic diseases affecting liver and biliary tree; for example, haemochromatosis – at incredibly affordable rates. In fact, the “miracle pill” for Hepatitis C, that can completely cure the disease over a period of twelve weeks, is available for US $300. The same pill can cost up to US$ 1000 per pill, with the full course running up to US $84000.

● An increase in urbanisation has also contributed to an increase in problems associated with modern living. This, in turn, has led to a shift from communicable diseases to lifestyle diseases. Excluding hereditary hemochromatosis, liver cirrhosis and non-viral related cirrhosis, such as alcohol and NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis) are among the leading causes of death worldwide. In fact, in 2001, the estimated worldwide mortality from cirrhosis was 771,000 people, ranking 14th and 10th as the leading cause of death in the world and in developed countries, respectively. Deaths from cirrhosis have been estimated to increase and would make it as the 12th leading cause of death in 2020.

● Investments from the private sector into the healthcare industry in general but in the hepatology sector of that industry in particular has also grown over the years. Since it’s the capital, setting up the best hepatology centre in Delhi is priority for both the public and private sector. Not just in terms of hospitals and medical centers, India is also marking its mark in hepatology research as well. While earlier, publications by Indian investigators in peer-reviewed international journals, were a rarity, they have now become quite common.

Streamlined processes, advanced technologies, state-of-the-art infrastructures, specialised & interdisciplinary care, along with highly knowledgeable and skilled doctors, supported by a thoroughly trained and compassionate staff makes India one of the premium destinations for hepotalogic treatment in the world. However, challenges imposed by a developing economy also exert a significant influence upon the practice of hepatology in India. Many government hospitals do not have required technological tools needed to perform complex procedures. Clearly, an open collaboration between private and public stakeholders is the need of the hour.

With consistent efforts by the government to strengthen the sector and incredible growth opportunities across different segments, supported by increasing awareness and changing lifestyles, India is set to become a global hub for hepatology services in the coming years.