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:
- Orthopedic Surgery (hip replacement, knee replacement, etc)
- Cardiology and Cardiothoracic surgery
- Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery: Face, Breast, Body Contouring
- Dental Services (surgeries, teeth whitening, dental implants, etc)
- Bariatric/Obesity Surgeries
- Cancer and Oncology
- Eye / Ophthalmology (LASIK, Cataract Surgeries, Vitreo Retinal Surgery, etc)
- Neurosurgery
- General Surgery
- Bone Marrow Transplant
- Nephrology and Kidney Transplant
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:
|
| Procedure | US Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Angioplasty | $55,000 - $57,000 | $10,000 - $12,000 | 78% - 81% |
| Spinal Fusion | $60,000 - $62,000 | $7,000 - $8,000 | 85% - 88% |
| Heart Bypass | $120,000 - $130,000 | $9,000 - $11,000 | 91% - 95% |
| Heart-valve Replacement | $150,000 - $160,000 | $9,000 - $10,000 | 94% - 96% |
| Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass | $28,000 - $30,000 | $10,000 - $12,000 | 60% - 64% |
| Hip Replacement | $41,000 - $43,000 | $8,000 - $10,000 | 76% - 80% |
| Mastectomy | $39,000 - $41,000 | $7,000 - $8,000 | 80% - 82% |
| Knee Replacement | $38,000 - $40,000 | $8,000 - $9,000 | 87% - 88% |
| Bone Marrow Transplant | $240,000 - $260,000 | $68,000 - $70,000 | 72% - 73% |
| Liver Transplant | $290,000 - $310,000 | $68,000 - $70,000 | 75% - 77% |
|
| Procedure | US Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Face Lift (rhytidectomy) | $7,000 - $9,000 | $4,000 - $5,000 | 42% - 44% |
| Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty) | $5,000 - $8,000 | $3,000 - $4,500 | 40% - 44% |
| Breast Reduction | $4,000 - $6,000 | $2,000 - $3,000 | 48% - 50% |
| Complete Liposuction (Lipoplasty) | $4,000 - $6,500 | $2,000 - $3,500 | 46% - 50% |
| Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) | $5,500 - $6,500 | $1,500 - $2,500 | 61% - 72% |
| Gluteal Augmentation | $8,000 - $10,000 | $4,000 - $5,000 | 50% - 52% |
|
| Procedure | US Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Cataract surgery | $1,500 - $2,500 | $1,000 - $1,500 | 33% - 40% |
|
| Procedure | US Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Root Canal | $600 - $1,000 | $100 - $150 | 83% - 85% |
| Porcelain Crown | $600 - $1,000 | $80 - $100 | 87% - 90% |
| Porcelain Metal Bridge | $1,000 - $1,800 | $250 - $350 | 75% - 81% |
| Dental Implant | $2,500 - $3,500 | $500 - $800 | 77% - 80% |
|
| Procedure | UK Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Coronary Angioplasty | $13,000 - $15,000 | $10,000 - $12,000 | 20% - 23% |
| Hip Replacement | $13,500 - $14,500 | $8,000 - $10,000 | 31% - 40$ |
| Knee Replacement | $16,000 - $17,000 | $8,000 - $9,000 | 47% - 50% |
|
| Procedure | UK Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Face Lift (rhytidectomy) | $11,000 - $12,000 | $4,000 - $5,000 | 65% - 75% |
| Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty) | $7,000 - $8,000 | $3,000 - $4,500 | 50% - 60% |
| Breast Reduction | $8,000 - $9,000 | $2,000 - $3,000 | 67% - 75% |
| Liposuction (lipoplasty) | $5,000 - $6,000 | $2,000 - $3,500 | 42% - 60% |
| Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) | $5,500 - $6,500 | $1,500 - $2,500 | 61% - 73% |
|
| Procedure | UK Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Root Canal (per canal) | $300 - $400 | $100 - $150 | 62% - 67% |
| Dental Implants | $3,000 - $4,000 | $500 - $800 | 80% - 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/To | India |
| New York City | 16 |
| Los Angeles | 18 |
| Miami | 18 |
| Dallas | 18 |
| London | 7 |
| Paris | 10 |
| Rome | 9 |
| Dubai | 4 |
| Riyadh | 5 |
| Bangladesh | 2 |
| Pakistan | 2 |
| Johannesburg | 10 |
| Sydney | 13 |
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.
In the past, U.S. President Barack Obama has singled out India for what he sees as the country usurping American jobs and business. In May 2009, he removed some tax incentives for U.S. companies who allegedly preferred to outsource rather than create domestic jobs. "Buffalo before Bangalore" was his rallying call at the time. Now, India is back in his crosshairs. In April 2011, he told a town hall gathering in Virginia that Americans shouldn’t have to go to India or Mexico for “cheap” health care. "I would like you to get it right here in the U.S.," he said.
