What is Medical Tourism?

Medical Tourism can be broadly defined as provision of cost effective private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry or patients needing surgical or other forms of specialized treatment. It is becoming common form of medication with vacationing.

India has become one of the most favoured destinations all over the world. It is because of its infrastructure and medical technology in which it is on par with USA, UK and any other European country.

The Indian healthcare industry is undergoing a phenomenal expansion and India is now looked upon as the leading country in the promotion of medical tourism, with an annual growth rate estimated at 13%. It has grown from 15% in 2000 to 30% in last five years. As per study more than 1, 50, 000 medical tourists in a year visited India.

India is rich with traditional system of Medical care and due to that Kerala has become a destination for Ayurveda system of treatment for patients from all over the world.

Due to advancement in science, technology, aviation and travel industry, the mobility in 21st century is no more a matter of constraints. Mobility, accessibility and affordability, world class health care facilities at competitive rates, attract world medical tourism clientele to our country. India is also a very popular tourist destination in the developed world.
Patients often wait months to obtain appointments with specialists, and receive treatment in many western countries. Lack of access to family physicians can make obtaining care particularly difficult in UK, USA and Canada.

Government and private sector studies in India, estimate that medical tourism could bring one to two billion US $ into the country by 2012. High cost of care in their own country, compared to 1/10 cost in India, is one of the reasons of heavy influx of tourist patients in India. Valve replacement surgery that would cost US $ 20,000 or more in USA, would cost just $ 10,000 or less (50% less) in India, including round trip airfare and brief vacation package. Similarly a metal free dental bridge worth $ 5,500 in USA would cost in India $500 or so.

ICRI Health has taken the onerous responsibility and has made a mission to bridge this gap of trained manpower in the field of medical tourism industry.

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