India poised to take lead in medical tourism

India Published 1 year ago on 29 August 2022 | Author TIN Media
INDIA:

India is getting set to welcome medical tourists from around the world with the new tagline "Heal in India" as it marks the 75th anniversary of its independence. The practice of crossing international borders in search of medical care is referred to as medical tourism. In the past forty years, there has been a dramatic shift in medical tourism, from patients seeking heart surgery or cancer treatment in the USA or Europe to the present, when there is a growing patient flow from developed to underdeveloped nations.

Cosmetic surgery (breast, liposuction), cardiology/cardiac surgery (bypass, stent placement), orthopedic surgery (hip and knee replacement), bariatric surgery, fertility treatment, organ transplantation, dentistry, and diagnostics are the main reasons people seek care abroad. Approximately 1.40 crore people are thought to travel abroad for better medical care each year. Before the Covid-19 outbreak in 2019, 6.97 lakh people (7% of all foreign visitors) entered India on a medical visa. These figures are anticipated to increase quickly as international travel becomes more accessible. The epidemic has increased waiting lists for elective procedures like joint replacements all around the world.

Different medical tourism locations have developed a kind of specialization. Brazil is highly known for cosmetic surgery, while Mexico, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand are well known for dental and cosmetic procedures as well as wellness travel. The availability of all super-specialties, including organ transplantation, is a unique feature of India. Ayurveda, yoga and other forms of wellness are available there, and they have a long history.

The affordability of care in underdeveloped countries is a major draw for patients from developed countries. A joint replacement, for instance, might cost $35,000–45,000 in the United States, $20,000–25,000 in Israel, and $6,000–8,000 in India. As opposed to $10,000–12,000 in Thailand, $11,000–12,000 in Singapore, and $45,000–50,000 in the USA, a heart bypass could cost as little as $9,000 in India.

Then there are those looking for fertility assistance, cosmetic surgery, and other non-insurance-covered medical services. Many people are forced to seek treatment elsewhere due to the lengthy waiting lists for elective operations in Canada and the UK. Some patients travel abroad for privacy reasons, especially those getting plastic surgery or sex change procedures.

The doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in India are highly skilled, and our modern infrastructure is on par with the best in the world. Language is not a barrier to medical training abroad, which is common. Excellent diagnostic and imaging services are offered in India, and they are also priced between tenths and fiftieths of what they would be in the USA. The JCI has accredited approximately 35 hospitals in India (Joint Commission International). This badge guarantees respect for international standards, quality, and safety. According to the Medical Tourism Index 2020–21, which was published by independent information provider MedicalTourism.com, India placed 10th out of 46 countries.

Many nations compete with one another for a larger piece of the medical tourism market. Through programs like the Multi-agency Government-Industry Partnership (Singapore) and the National Committee for Promotion of Medical and Health Tourism, the governments of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, and South Korea have made it easier for people to travel for medical purposes (Malaysia). By bringing in state and university hospitals, Germany and Hungary have expanded their horizons. The Harvard Medical School, Dubai Center, and The Johns Hopkins Singapore International Medical Center are a few examples of cross-border partnerships.

India has so far left it up to individual hospitals to promote themselves. To draw patients from abroad, they would promote the international credentials of their doctors. But in recent years, the government has made an initiative to take advantage of medical tourism. Since August 2019, foreigners can obtain any type of treatment without a medical visa, except for organ transplants.

The last few months have seen the beginning of many strategic initiatives, including the simplification of Medical Value Travel (MVT) and the global launch of the "Heal in India" effort to highlight India's medical prowess. More than 40 nations have been recognized by the government as major sources of medical tourists to India. The National Health Authority and the Health Ministry have created a multilingual webpage that serves as a one-stop shop for services offered by medical travel agencies and hospitals. The top ten airports for patient inflow will provide services including facilitation desks and translators.

Other strategies include developing capacity, creating medical enclaves for international patients, extending insurance coverage, creating specific wellness tourist zones, and health insurance portability. To facilitate the integration of all parties, the health and tourism ministries jointly chair the Medical Value Travel Council, a nodal institution. In significant cities, more than 60 new medical facilitator start-ups have appeared as a complement to these initiatives; they provide a selection of hospitals and medical specialists. Additionally, they make travel, lodging, visa arrangements, financial aid, and occasionally even translators, drivers, cooks, and housekeepers for the patients.

But there are also some negative aspects. Concerns about the country's brain drain into private hospitals at the expense of the public sector exist in both Thailand and India. Other issues include the possibility of infections, especially drug-resistant ones, shorter post-operative care, a lack of follow-up, unnecessary surgery, and medico-legal complications. Australian Medical Association has advised its members to think about the hazards. A "yellow book" advisory has been released by the US Center for Disease Control.

Since there are no government hospitals in India that have received accreditation from organizations like the JCI, the private sector is responsible for providing care and withstanding scrutiny. A public-private partnership model of some form might be created to utilize the infrastructure and knowledge of academic institutions. The government is responsible for making sure that the system has sufficient protections and that the appropriate regulatory controls are in place. To build a reliable ecosystem and get rid of the bad aspects, the industry needs to be organized through registration, accreditation, and categorization of MVT facilitators as well as medical service providers. Additionally, Indian hospitals might collaborate with foreign insurers and create collaborative projects with outside service providers.