look news india
A recent and interesting example of how fast India’s medical tourism sector is reaching new heights at the global level is going viral on social media. Fed up with the exorbitant medical expenses in the US and weeks-long waits for doctors’ appointments, an American woman reached India for treatment. After being admitted to a private super-specialty hospital in India, she was so impressed by the world-class infrastructure, world-class facilities like 5-star hotels, modern medical technology and the friendly behavior of the doctors and nursing staff that she shared the video and asked, should I settle in this country forever?
America’s expensive health system vs Indian medical care
In a viral video, the American woman shared the stark difference between the healthcare services of the United States (US) and India. According to the woman, in America, without comprehensive health insurance, the cost of even a simple checkup or minor surgery reaches thousands of dollars (lakhs of rupees). Additionally, patients have to wait months in advance for an appointment to consult a specialist doctor or even for basic tests like MRI/CT scans. On the contrary, consultation was done by expert doctors on the same day of arrival in India, all necessary diagnostic tests were completed within a few hours and treatment and procedure started immediately without any complicated waiting list.
5-star hotel facilities and modern technology
The woman compared the Indian hospital’s private rooms, cleanliness, digital monitoring system and facilities provided to the patient’s family with international luxury hotels. She said the nutritious customized meals in the room, dedicated nursing care and regular monitoring by the doctors were so comfortable and professional that she did not even feel the stress of being in a hospital. The biggest thing was that the total budget for the entire travel, flight tickets, stay in India and high level treatment was less than one-fourth of the medical bill in the US alone.
India becoming a major center of global medical tourism
This is not just one woman’s personal experience, but millions of international patients from across the world are arriving in India every year for cardiac surgery, oncology (cancer care), orthopedic joint replacement, organ transplant and dental treatment. India has a vast network of hospitals accredited to international standards (JCI and NABH), where world-class treatment is provided at 70 to 80 percent lower costs than western countries. Along with this, the ‘Heal in India’ campaign launched by the Government of India and the easy ‘Medical Visa’ rules are making it very easy for foreign nationals to come to India and get treatment.