Introduction
Medical tourism – one of the most popular terms googled in recent times. The moment you type Medical tourism in India – tons of websites would be in front of you. Each webpage would explain why and how Medical Tourism is important in India. Be it qualified doctors, language, cost-effective, and varied options to travel post-recovery, etc. After spending days smelling ether in the hospital room, it’s a much-needed change for the recovered patient to travel around in India. There are so many healthcare professionals, multi-specialty hospitals, places for wellness therapy after treatments, and so on. All these things without blowing a hole in the pocket. The key reason – is treatment at a very cost-effective range.
Yes, Cost-effective – that is the catch Of course, along with the expertise of Indian doctors. These are the reasons why India is gaining popularity as the most preferred place to recuperate for thousands of patients across the world.
Hence there will be myriad questions that need to be answered before one decides to opt for the top hospitals in India. There are several vital frequently asked questions about Medical tourism that a medical tourist needs to know to get acquainted with the several options of hospitals, treatments, and facilities in India.
What exactly does Medical Tourism represent?
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Medical tourism has picked up pace in recent years. But, the concept of Medical tourism is old. Decades back, patients used to travel for better healthcare and treatment. Earlier, the influx was towards the American and other countries from India. However, the situation has now been reversed. Patients from all over the world prefer to be treated in India. Long waiting lists in the home country, the ease of travel to India, the cost of treatments, and other constraints, among other factors, have all contributed to an increase in Medical Tourism in India.
In simpler words, Medical tourism is when patients staying in the country travel to another to receive the best medical care at par or best than the care they would receive in their home country, that too at an affordable price bracket. The term – tourism in this context, refers to patients who have recovered have varied options to travel to different places in India as per their preferences.
Why should I consider medical or surgical procedures in India?
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Not just qualified doctors, but India also has the best medical facilities at par with the rest of the developed countries. The Indian government is following massive steps to campaign for medical tourism in India. One of the steps is to provide quick and easy visa policies for tourists who are seeking to travel to India for surgical procedures or other medical treatments. One of the topmost reasons why many prefer India for medical treatments is the cost factor. Medical facilities in India are comparatively economical compared to other countries. Numerous surgical procedures in India offer competitive rates with an affordable range. Though, a lot depends on the treatment that one is seeking. For example – Open-heart surgery in India is inexpensive compared to the USA and many other European, Asian nations. Not just for surgical procedures but, India also has several leading pharmaceutical companies that offer the best medicines at considerable rates compared to other countries.
Along with cost factors, the crucial factor is the quality of the medical facilities and treatments in India. As per the research, India ranks amongst the top five countries that offer the optimum medical treatment than other developed countries.
Which country has the best doctors?
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Amongst the best-qualified doctors in the world – Doctors in India have qualifications and experience at par with the doctors in other countries. A few countries with the best doctors are Turkey, India, South Korea, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.
What are the main categories of medical tourism?
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Medical tourism is a wide term that encompasses a variety of activities. To understand it better medical tourism categories are of three major types as below:
- Inbound Medical Tourism: In this type, patients from a foreign nation travel to their home country for medical treatment.
- Outbound Medical Tourism: When a patient travels from their home country to a foreign land for medical treatment, it is known as outbound medical tourism.
- Domestic Tourism: As the term suggests, in this type, patients travel from one state or part of a country to another for medical treatments.
In this, the popular types of medical tourism are Bariatric surgery, fertility treatments, cardiology, orthopedics, dental, eye surgery, cosmetology, organ transplant, and rehabilitation.
How can it be safe to travel so far after a surgical procedure?
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This question should be considered well-in-advance before you decide to opt for medical tourism. In some cases, patients can fly after the surgery, while, in some, it is not advisable. This answer to this query narrows down to the case-on-case recommendation of the doctor depending on the risk factors. It depends on the surgery or treatment type, current health condition of the patient, the type of travel needed, etc. Generally, travel after surgery is not recommended. Long hours on the flight may deteriorate health conditions.
Hence it is safe to take enough time to recuperate and follow all the necessary precautions before the patient plans to travel after surgery. This part should be pre-clarified and understood before the procedure. Discuss with your doctor even before you plan to book your travel. The doctor would advise the best timeframe to travel post-surgery.
Why is medical tourism needed?
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The reasons for Medical tourism are several. Many patients opt for medical tourism to undergo treatments similar to surgeries; some may also travel for fertility treatments, dental treatments, etc. In some cases, patients suffering from rare conditions may choose to travel to those countries where the particular treatment is carried out successfully.
Medical tourism offers middle-class patients from developed nations to receive an upper-class treatment in their cost-effective range. Even if the cost is lower, the quality is not compromised. High quality and affordable medical treatment are the prime reasons for medical tourism. Medical treatments in India fall under this category of affordable, time-saving, and high-quality treatments.
Which is the best country for medical treatment?
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As stated above, many countries in the world are known for medical tourism. Nonetheless, India is the ideal country for medical treatment for a variety of reasons. India is the best country for all major or minor medical surgeries. We have numerous multi-specialty hospitals across the country. Flight connectivity from many countries to the metro cities of India is fantastic. For patients from most foreign countries, it’s a visa-free policy, and some other nationals may avail themselves of a quick and easy visa for India. The hospitals in India use the latest equipment and state-of-the-art technologies. English, the international language, is widely spoken throughout the country. Post-treatment options are tremendous. Overall, India is the best choice for foreign medical tourists.
Is medical tourism safe?
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Medical tourism is, by and large, considered safe. But it is imperative to research the country you are planning to travel to as a medical tourist. Research the surgical specialties, hospitals, cities preferred, quality of treatment, healthcare professionals, and post-treatment factors as well. Above all Medical Tourism in India is considered the safest amongst other countries.
Which state of India is leading in medical tourism?
India is well-known for its medical tourism. But the leading destinations of medical tourism in India are Kerala, New Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Amongst all these states, Andhra Pradesh is ruling the top position as of now. All these states have their share of USPs. It ultimately depends on the medical tourist’s precise requirements and preferences.
Why is India best for medical tourism?
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India is best for medical tourism, not just for one but many reasons for it. The cost of treatment is the most critical consideration. The most significant factor to consider is the expense of treatment. Second is the visa policy for foreign medical tourists is quite efficient and streamlined. There is no shortage of qualified healthcare professionals in India. The majority of Indian hospitals employ cutting-edge technologies. Also, post-recovery medical tourists can opt for myriad therapies like Naturopathy, Ayurveda, and Yoga. Finally, but not the least reason is almost all the healthcare professionals across the country can converse in English. It removes the language barrier for many foreign tourists.
What are the traditional medical tourism services of India?
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Apart from the medical treatments that include organ transplantation, oncology, neurosciences, cardiac care, bariatrics, etc. India is renowned for its traditional Indian medical treatments like Ayurveda, Panchakarma, Yoga, etc. Traditional medicine includes skill, knowledge, practices based on the beliefs, theories, and experiences that are indigenous to different cultures or countries. These traditional treatments like Ayurveda are used to diagnose, cure and prevent any mental or physical illness.
Wellness treatments are picking up pace as well. It offers rejuvenation therapy in India like spa treatments for stress relief as a post-recovery treatment for medical tourists.
What are the benefits received by medical tourism in India?
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Let us summarise the benefits of Medical tourism in India. Number one is the affordability or the treatment cost factor. Number two is that there are thousands of skilled and qualified healthcare professionals. Number three, all the latest and advanced healthcare technologies and facilities are present in the majority of hospitals in India. Number four, no waiting for months, medical tourists receive immediate treatments. Number five, flight connectivity from several countries to major cities of India is the best. Number six, there is no communication barrier. The language of instruction is English, which is widely spoken throughout the country. Finally, number 7, India has a wide range of travel options to explore post recovery and during the recovery phase, one can opt for various wellness treatment options.
What role does MediFlam play in the medical tourism process?
After reading all the above crucial content related to Medical tourism in India, let me share how MediFlam plays a significant role in it. Several medical facilitators in India can help with the entire medical and travel arrangements for a medical tourist. But this sector is currently in the budding stage. One would require the assistance and guidance of an organized company that can cater to several aspects of medical services. Mediflam is one such medical catalyst having a team of highly skilled and trained professionals with an enriched background in the medical field. We have great collaborations with some of the renowned hospitals in India. They have qualified doctors, world-class services and offer a range of diverse treatments in most parts of the country. We act as a catalyst; between medical tourists and hospitals for the A to Z requirements of any medical tourists. We also provide other services like air tickets, visa assistance, transportation, accommodation options, hospital appointments, dedicated team to resolve all your queries and provide the optimum assistance during your entire stay in India.
