Monday, January 28, 2013

MedicalTourism to India- a Guide


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India has emerged as a prime destination for medical tourists from around the globe. The services on offer range from executive health packages to complicated heart surgeries.
Medical travelers come to India from Western nations to take advantage of the low cost of medical procedures, which are 40 to 80 percent lower in comparison to healthcare costs in their home countries.
Medical tourists from Asia and Africa are attracted to India's superior quality in healthcare, accredited medical facilities, and Western-trained qualified medical personnel.

The Healthcare System in India

The low cost of healthcare is not the only driving force of medical tourism in India. The level of healthcare service in the leading hospitals and medical centers are on par to what is being offered in US and UK hospitals and superior to most Asian countries. Patients from Western nations who opt for top notch accredited facilities will receive the same type of medical services in a manner that they are accustomed to, as doctors, nurses and other health professionals are trained and certified to Western standards and practices.
Accreditation standards are controlled locally by the Indian Healthcare Federation, the Indian Medical Tourism Council and the Indian Ministry of Health. Accreditation of hospitals and other healthcare facilities are handled locally by the NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers), which is the constituent board of the QCIN (Quality Council of India). Some hospitals also have international accreditation by the Joint Commission International, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the British Standards Institute, or are affiliated with healthcare organizations and insurance companies in the US and the West.

Top Hospitals in India for Medical Tourism

Over 60 percent of medical tourists in India are catered for by the top private hospitals, although there are state and public healthcare facilities that provide services to private customers as well as for the general public. The top hospitals in India usually provide an end-to-end service that combines personalized services rendered in the hotel industry to top-of-the-line quality healthcare.
  • Apollo Hospitals 
    The Apollo Group is the largest corporate healthcare provider in Asia offering first-world facilities in third-world locations. Apollo Hospitals are the first JCI-accredited facilities in India and have grown to several world-class facilities including hospitals in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Punjab and Kolkata. The Apollo Group is also affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Medicine International.
  • Fortis Hospitals 
    Fortis Healthcare operates more than 10 hospitals in different locations in India, including New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Three Fortis hospitals are JCI accredited, and most of them are modern, high quality medical facilities.
  • Columbia Asia Hospitals 
    A healthcare group with several hospitals in India as well as other Asian countries. Their flagship hospital in India is the Columbia Asia Referral Hospital in Bangalore, which is accredited by the NABH.
  • Wockhardt Hospitals 
    With one hospital located in Bangalore and another in Mumbai, the Wockhardt Hospitals are exclusive institutions that are affiliated with the Harvard Medical International, which is the international arm of the Harvard Medical School. Wockhardt is also approved and affiliated by the Blue Cross Blue Shield, a U.S. insurance company providing coverage to US medical travelers.
  • Browse our list of hospitals in India >>.

Common procedures that medical tourists get done in India.  

Hospitals and healthcare facilities in India offer a wide array of procedures and services for medical travelers, which include but are not limited to the following:

Cost of Medical Treatment in India

The following are cost comparisons between Medical procedures in India and equivalent procedures in the United States and the UK:
Price Comparison with the US [source]

Medical Procedures
ProcedureUS HospitalsIndiaAverage Savings
Angioplasty$55,000 - $57,000$10,000 - $12,00078% - 81%
Spinal Fusion$60,000 - $62,000$7,000 - $8,00085% - 88%
Heart Bypass$120,000 - $130,000$9,000 - $11,00091% - 95%
Heart-valve Replacement$150,000 - $160,000$9,000 - $10,00094% - 96%
Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass$28,000 - $30,000$10,000 - $12,00060% - 64%
Hip Replacement$41,000 - $43,000$8,000 - $10,00076% - 80%
Mastectomy$39,000 - $41,000$7,000 - $8,00080% - 82%
Knee Replacement$38,000 - $40,000$8,000 - $9,00087% - 88%
Bone Marrow Transplant$240,000 - $260,000$68,000 - $70,00072% - 73%
Liver Transplant$290,000 - $310,000$68,000 - $70,00075% - 77%
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
ProcedureUS HospitalsIndiaAverage Savings
Face Lift (rhytidectomy)$7,000 - $9,000$4,000 - $5,00042% - 44%
Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty)$5,000 - $8,000$3,000 - $4,50040% - 44%
Breast Reduction$4,000 - $6,000$2,000 - $3,00048% - 50%
Complete Liposuction (Lipoplasty)$4,000 - $6,500$2,000 - $3,50046% - 50%
Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)$5,500 - $6,500$1,500 - $2,50061% - 72%
Gluteal Augmentation$8,000 - $10,000$4,000 - $5,00050% - 52%
Eye / Ophthalmology
ProcedureUS HospitalsIndiaAverage Savings
Cataract surgery$1,500 - $2,500$1,000 - $1,50033% - 40%
General and Cosmetic Dentistry
ProcedureUS HospitalsIndiaAverage Savings
Root Canal$600 - $1,000$100 - $15083% - 85%
Porcelain Crown$600 - $1,000$80 - $10087% - 90%
Porcelain Metal Bridge$1,000 - $1,800$250 - $35075% - 81%
Dental Implant$2,500 - $3,500$500 - $80077% - 80%
Price Comparison with the UK [source]

Medical Procedures
ProcedureUK HospitalsIndiaAverage Savings
Coronary Angioplasty$13,000 - $15,000$10,000 - $12,00020% - 23%
Hip Replacement$13,500 - $14,500$8,000 - $10,00031% - 40$
Knee Replacement$16,000 - $17,000$8,000 - $9,00047% - 50%
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
ProcedureUK HospitalsIndiaAverage Savings
Face Lift (rhytidectomy)$11,000 - $12,000$4,000 - $5,00065% - 75%
Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty)$7,000 - $8,000$3,000 - $4,50050% - 60%
Breast Reduction$8,000 - $9,000$2,000 - $3,00067% - 75%
Liposuction (lipoplasty)$5,000 - $6,000$2,000 - $3,50042% - 60%
Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)$5,500 - $6,500$1,500 - $2,50061% - 73%
General and Cosmetic Dentistry
ProcedureUK HospitalsIndiaAverage Savings
Root Canal (per canal)$300 - $400$100 - $15062% - 67%
Dental Implants$3,000 - $4,000$500 - $80080% - 83%

Malpractice and Liability Laws in India

Doctors in India are responsible for their activities and medical performance under the law. In India,malpractice cases are handled by consumer courts and awards given are restricted only to the actual medical damage incurred.
Medical travelers to India are advised to make use of a specialized insurance company to insure their visit.

Pros

  • Low costs

    Quality healthcare at probably the lowest costs possible
  • Quality healthcare at the top hospitals

    Top hospitals offering high quality medical, healthcare and diagnostic facilities
  • English

    English-speaking and Western-trained doctors and health practitioners
  • Waiting times

    Minimal or no waiting time for medical attention and procedures

Cons

  • Lack of accreditation

    Except for the top hospitals, minor institutions lack proper hospital accreditation systems
  • Malpractice and liability

    Malpractice laws and implementations are still inefficient
  • Surrounding infrastructure

    Infrastructure and facilities in the surrounding communities do not resemble western standards. Once you leave the hospital you are at your own risk.
  • Cultural differences

    Certain cultural aspects as practiced by the locals may come as a culture shock for many foreign visitors. This includes aspects pertaining to religion, culture and even hygiene

Traveling to India

Average estimated travel time in hours
From/ToIndia
New York City16
Los Angeles18
Miami18
Dallas18
London7
Paris10
Rome9
Dubai4
Riyadh5
Bangladesh2
Pakistan2
Johannesburg10
Sydney13

Entry and Exit Requirements to India

Except for citizens from Nepal and Bhutan, all foreigners from other countries, including the European Union, United States and Canada, require a visa to enter India. India does not allow for "a visa on arrival", thus visas should first be obtained from the Indian Embassy or consulate in the medical travelers country of origin.
Requirements to obtain a visa include: a passport valid for a minimum of 190 days, the visa fee, passport photographs and a completed application form. Supporting documents may be necessary to determine or justify the required length of stay, but for medical cases, a multiple entry for a period of 6 months to one year may be provided.
For more information you may visit Indian Bureau of Immigration

Statistics for Medical Tourism in India

It is estimated that over 450,000 medical tourists traveled to India to seek healthcare in 2007, a tremendous growth from the estimated 150,000 in 2002. Experts agree that India's medical tourism industry is expected to keep growing in the coming years.

Hospitals in India

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