Best Medical Treatment in India for Foreigners

Medical tourism in India is a growing sector. Defined as the phenomenon when people go abroad to obtain medical treatment, it has become the latest buzzword in the healthcare industry. This has led to the rise of the misconception that it is perhaps an untrustworthy sector, for it is still in its infancy. The reality is far from it. While yes, perhaps the term “medical tourism” is fairly new, the idea itself is not. The first documented cases of medical tourism can be traced back to the height of the Greek Empire, with pilgrims traveling from eastern Mediterranean to Epidauria searching for cures for their ailments. Further, although historically medical tourism has indeed been linked to the phenomenon of people from developing nations going to prominent medical centers in developed nations, with time, and perhaps as a result of unfettered capitalism, the tide itself is shifting. Every year more people arrive in the other half, looking for cheaper, more accessible healthcare. And this is where India comes into the picture.

There are several advantages of medical tourism in India. As a result, over the years, medical tourism from Africa to India and from countries such as Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iraq, Maldives, Oman, Yemen, etc. have been on the rise. Further, affordable medical treatment packages have also attracted patients from developed nations such as US, UK, Germany, as well. Not only healthcare services in India are available at a cost-effective rate, especially when compared to the West, they are delivered by world-class, highly skilled, and trained professionals. Some of the most popular and best medical treatments in India for foreigners include heart bypass surgery, knee replacement surgery, breast implants, liposuction, IVF treatment. For the purpose of comparison, compare the following: a heart bypass procedure can run up to US$ 144,000 in US when it can be done in India for US$ 5,200; a hip replacement surgery can cost up to US$ 50,000, when in fact it could be done in US$ 7,000 in India; lasik (for both eyes) cost about US$ 4,400 in the US, when it costs only US$ 500 in India.

It is important to note that the low cost of these services does not mean low quality of services. Healthcare is cheap in India as compared to other “western”/”developed” countries because of lower labour costs. A large population means a large batch of readily available pool of labour – doctors, nurses, janitors, etc – and this brings down the cost per head per hour, especially when compared to the West. Further, low labour costs bring down the taxation on the same since the two are directly correlated.

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 healthcare service providers in the world. India has an abundance of highly skilled professionals. In fact, we've got so many talented doctors, the new stereotype of "doctor" in Hollywood is that of an Indian. Further, although India is a land of diversity and thus has thousands of languages – the Constitution itself mentions 22 “scheduled” languages – English is widely used as the language for official correspondence. Most Indians receive all of their education in English and thus are quite fluent in it. Further, the best hospitals in India are well equipped in dealing with regular influx of medical tourists who have specialised teams trained to make the patient comfortable during their stay. Such hospitals have specific programs that take into consideration the cultural and ethnic background of the patients to provide a ‘home away from home’ stay.

It is important to note that owing to its rich tradition of ancient practices such as Ayurveda and Yoga, there are various types of medical tourism in India. India is one of the top destinations for wellness and rejuvenation. Over the last couple of years in particular, thanks in part to globalisation bridging the gap between the “East” and the “West,” the world has taken an interest in not just the science behind the alternative medicinal practices of Naturopathy and Siddha, the history of Ayurveda, and the practice of Yoga, but also in the multi-dimensional concept of physical, mental and emotional well-being and their documented benefits. The country sees a steady influx of tourists from United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, etc. at a number of wellness and rejuvenation resorts across the country, that offer not just the best ayurvedic treatment in India but also personalised wellness programs.

Choosing to opt for medical tourism is not an easy decision. There are, understandably, a number of factors that patients must consider before their trip. With myths and misinformation abound, it is important now more than ever to conduct thorough research. Once these misconceptions are out of the way, you will discover that medical tourism in India 2020 is not only cheap and affordable as advertised, but safe and effective to go with it.

Obesity Management in India

As much as technology and modernisation have made our lives easier, equally has it led to an increase in lifestyle diseases. One of the leading preventable causes of death in the modern world is obesity. While changes to diet and exercising are indeed the main treatments, it can be, at times, difficult to remove those stubborn fats. Fortunately, a number of top obesity management hospitals in India are more than adequately equipped to handle this. These hospitals employ advanced medical facilities and highly skilled staff to provide complete and thorough care to the patients – from accurately identifying the causes and containing the risk factors to preventing further complications. Not only is India equipped to handle its domestic patients, being globally recognised as the hub for the very best hospitals for obesity management, the country sees a steady influx of tourists from United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, etc., for a number of procedures ranging from liposuction to bariatric surgery.

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.

• An increase in urbanisation have 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. The demand for specialised care for obesity control and obesity management have also contributed to the growth of the sector.

• Obesity management hospitals and clinics in India offer complex procedures at an incredibly affordable rate. While a Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass procedure can cost more than US $30,000 in the United States,the same procedure could be done in US$ 6,000-7,000 in India. It is important to note that the low cost of these services does not mean low quality of services. Healthcare is cheap in India as compared to other “western”/”developed” countries because of lower labour costs. A large population means a large batch of readily available pool of labour – doctors, nurses, janitors, etc – and this brings down the cost per head per hour, especially when compared to the West. Further, low labour costs bring down the taxation on the same since the two are directly correlated.

• Investments from the private sector into the healthcare industry in general but in the obesity management sector of that industry in particular has also grown over the years. Many big players such as Apollo, VLCC, Manipal Group, etc. are venturing into the sector and are setting up specialised centres across the country. Since it’s the capital, setting up the best obesity management hospital in Delhi is priority for both the public and private sector.

In a country where around 13% to 50% of the urban population and 8% to 38.2% of the rural population suffers from obesity, setting up proper centers for the care and treatment of these ailments, along with creating an adequate number of physicians with expertise to plan and chart effective obesity management plans, has been a high priority for the government. Especially when a number of studies have shown that increase in obesity leads to an increase in associated co-morbidities like T2DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease (CHD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obstructive sleep apnea and certain cancers. Meanwhile, recognising the incredible potential of growth and business, the private stakeholders have more than doubled their investments in setting up the infrastructure to make the most of the market.

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

Charting the Rise of Cosmetic Surgery in India

With its highly skilled and trained professionals, ease of travel, quality healthcare services, 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. Of these, though, the exact number of medical tourists travelling to India for cosmetic surgery exclusively is not clear. While the country sees a steady influx of tourists from United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, etc., most bundle cosmetic procedures with their normal travel itinerary. Experts agree that the Indian cosmetic surgery sector is growing between 20 to 30 percent, however, due to a lack of study and surveys in the field, along with the aforementioned factors, the exact number is unknown.

It is important to note that as much as globalisation and the increase in international tourism have contributed to the impressive growth of this sector, there have also been several other notable factors that have contributed to this growth. 

● Cosmetic surgery clinics in India offer complex procedures at an incredibly affordable rate. According to Dr. Mukul Dabholkar, a Bandra-based dentist, a full mouth rehabilitation with bridgework, crowns and laminates would cost approximately US$ 39,000 in the United Kingdom. The same procedure could be done in US$ 12,600 in India. A Botox shot in India costs about US$ 5.56 per unit; in US it can cost about US$ 70 per unit.

● Though cosmetic surgery and various other associated procedures have been prevalent in India for over four decades, they have always been mentioned in hush-hush tones. This is changed over the last few years, as purchasing power of the Indian middle class has increased by leaps and bounds. Once the privileged Indian upper class was perhaps the sole client of the plethora of highly skilled cosmetic surgeons in the country. That is no longer the case.

● India is not only home to a number of talented cosmetic surgeons running their own clinics, several hospitals, especially in Mumbai, offer cosmetic procedures at cost effective rates. Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Center, Asian Heart Institute, Wockhardt Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital, to name a few. In fact, Dr. Mohan Thomas, a cosmetic surgeon who qualified in the United States and is now practicing in India, calls Mumbai the cosmetic surgery mecca. A member of the national advisory tourism council under the Ministry of Tourism, he notes how up until two years ago Chennai captured a giant share of the Indian cosmetic surgery market because of low fees and operating costs, but that has changed now. Mumbai is not just the entertainment capital of the country, it also the cosmetic surgery capital. If one to believe the grapevines, there is perhaps a relation there.

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 cosmetic surgery in the world. However, the sector is also quite unregulated. Lack of governmental oversight has been reported by many experts; and while in a country such a India, where the healthcare delivery system is itself delivered by both private and public stakeholders, some government initiatives and policy support is, of course, necessary. Fortunately, the government recognises this and is working on drafting several legislations for the same.

With consistent efforts by the government to regulate and strengthen the sector and incredible investment opportunities for private stakeholders, supported by changing lifestyles and increased purchasing power of the common man, India is set to become a global hub for cosmetic surgery services in the coming years.