Medical Tourism Pluses
Facilitating medical tourism to India is not on the agenda of issues that will be addressed during US President Barack Obama’s visit but it should have been. This is because it can benefit both the countries, a fact often not appreciated in either because of misconceptions. One is that a dollar spent by a US citizen in India means a dollar less of revenue for the US health-care industry. India offering health-care tourism amounts to services exports which is currently politically anathema in the US because it is seen as leading to job losses. But the reality is different as it is not a zero-sum game. American health-care spending in India does not mean less so in the US as a significant section of Americans are currently without health insurance cover as it is unaffordable. President Obama’s health-care reform has sought to address precisely this. US citizens for whom health cover in the US is too costly can find an alternative destination in India as costs here are often around a fifth of US levels. This is why some US insurance companies are offering an ...
India rapidly becoming leading destination for medical tourism
Every year, thousands of foreigners flock to Indian hospitals to seek medical treatment that is either too expensive in their own countries or which require specialised procedures that are more accessible in that country. Last month, someone who is very dear to me found himself in one such hospital, adding to the growing list of people now known as “medical tourists”. The Indian government is actively promoting this type of tourism and is fully aware of the fact that it has found a niche in a global market that cannot be matched by any developing country, except perhaps South Africa. India has both the medical expertise and the facilities to carry out complex medical procedures that would cost an arm and a leg in other countries, or which are simply unavailable in a large number of developing countries such as Kenya. Hospitals in India are only too happy to accept foreign patients. The more reputable ones now have entire marketing departments that cater purely to the medical tourist. These hospitals offer “medical packages” that offer a range of services, including airport transfers, initial consultation with a doctor upon arrival, standard pre-surgery tests, including scans, pre- and post-surgery medication, stay in an air-conditioned ...
One in 20 people have recently had a medical or dental procedure outside Britain – or are planning one.
Medical tourism is a rapidly growing industry. Long NHS waiting lists and expensive private care have meant that 2.65 million Britons have recently been or are planning to go abroad for medical procedures. Gone are the days when going overseas for a medical procedure meant solely cut-price cosmetic surgery and a recovery in the sun. Now patients are opting to go abroad for cheaper deals on hip replacements, dentistry and infertility treatment. Not that it is without controversy – a recent report inThe Lancet warned that antibiotics' days were numbered because of global travel and medical tourism. According to currency broker Currencies.co.uk, one in 20 people have recently had a medical or dental procedure outside Britain – or are planning one. Sterling's strength against eastern European currencies and NHS cutbacks have meant countries such as Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic have seen increasing numbers of medical tourists. With spending cuts expected to hit the NHS, more people might be tempted to look overseas. So how do you ensure that you save without risking your health? A spokesman for the British Medical Association (BMA) said thorough research was essential before any patient considered going abroad for treatment. "It is extremely important that patients consult their ...
Indian Government rubbishes report linking superbug to India
The Government on Thursday rejected the report that claimed drug-resistant superbugs have been traced back to India and can cause multiple organ failure. Earlier, researchers on Wednesday said they had found a new gene called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) in patients in South Asia and in Britain. Claiming that there was a conflict of interest in the publication of the report, the Government said that the study was funded by the European Union and two pharma companies - Wellcome Trust and Wyeth - who produce the antibiotics for treatment of such cases. Sources say Karthikeyan K Kumaraswamy, the scientist who was heading the study, received a travel grant from Wyeth. David M Livermore, another scientist on the team, received conference support from numerous pharma companies and also holds shares in AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, Dechra and GlaxoSmithKline and as Enduring Attorney, manages more holdings in GlaxoSmithKline and Eco Animal. The Government has also asked for a detailed report from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases and the Director General of Health Services on the NDM1 superbug. "This news has created a misconception and a feeling that the point of origin of the bacteria is in India. We have got the matter examined. We have come ...
Cost – Primary Reason for Travelling Abroad for Care
Affordability is key driver for patients crossing borders to access medical services according to a new medical tourism research survey Cost is the most significant factor that determines a person’s decision to travel abroad for health care, according to a recent study published by a renowned medical tourism consultant. The international survey, which was conducted by UAE-based Dr. Prem Jagyasi, revealed that that affordability was deemed to be the key driver for those seeking medical treatment outside of their own countries, with 88% of respondents marking this as the prime reason. The report, which is available to view on line at www.DrPrem.com, was aimed at providing a strategic insight into the healthcare travel sector. “The aim of this medical tourism survey was to attain the views of those who are working closely within the medical tourism industry,” said Dr. Jagyasi. “Ninety-five per cent of those who took the survey were involved directly in this specialised field of healthcare, with 63 per cent of them identifying themselves as being at a senior or expert level. The knowledge gained from this survey will help shed more light on to this growing sector of the healthcare industry and provide patients and healthcare professionals with important ...
What is Transparency of Care in Medical Tourism?
Transparency of care in medical tourism is very essential component for overall success. Since medical tourism involves patients traveling to across the border, it might not be possible for patient to collect all necessary information in advance about healthcare indicators at destination. Hence, it’s essential that healthcare service provider should provide necessary information in utmost transparent manners to protect patient and medical tourism industry. Patients should be made aware of any issues which might not be in knowledge of the international patient, including but not limited to cultural, legal and ethical issues. Healthcare provider must disclose proper information about qualifications, licensing status and training of the healthcare professionals / surgeons / technical team. The information about the success results of operating teams should not be exaggerated. Medication errors, infection rates and death rates are factors that consumer should know prior to travel to destination. The healthcare provider should make available all destination related healthcare indicator for patients so they can prepare well in advance. Click here to continue reading [fb_like]
Let’s abandon medical tourism!
Pollard from Treatment Abroad explains why the industry should abandon “medical tourism”. Is he serious? Yes. He even suggests that we should start a “Campaign Against Medical Tourism”. What is he on about? Read more.... I’ve never been a great fan of the phrase “medical tourism”. It’s confusing and doesn’t really describe what most of the industry is about. For most people (outside of the industry) medical tourism suggests that someone is combining treatment with a holiday/vacation. But in many instances, this is not the case. Nevertheless, it has crept into common usage. Or has it....? The preferred industry term This week’s IMTJ news features a report from Dr Prem Jagyasi on medical tourism. One of the conclusions of the report was that that the phrase “medical tourism” is the preferred industry term. The question we need to ask is whether it is the phrase that is actually in common usage (outside of as opposed to within the industry) and whether it is the best one to use. The report suggests that “medical tourism is a term interchangeable with ‘medical travel’, ‘health travel’ and ‘health tourism’.” It quite clearly isn’t as it means very different things ...
Ayurveda in the quest of recognition in UK
As Ayurveda, arguably India's greatest gift to the world, is fighting for formal recognition in Britain, its leading practitioners are seeking to raise money to establish a charity to that end. Ironically, just as Ayurveda increases in popularity and modern Western medicine and the pharmaceutical industry are accused of over-reliance on drugs, members of the British Association of Accredited Ayurvedic Practitioners (BAAAP) are striving against bureaucracy and prejudice to put their profession on a more regulated, professional footing. The increased popularity of the Ayurveda system of medicine is resulting in a flood of poorly trained practitioners who are found to have been making erroneous patient assessments and treatments, which are threatening the credibility and reliability of the profession as a whole. But the BAAAP is facing tighter legislative controls, adverse media coverage and opposition from the votaries of conventional medicine in its quest for recognition for Ayurveda as a worthwhile way of life and medical treatment. So, the organisation is now intent on setting up a charity in London to raise the money necessary to have its activities regulated and thereby put the profession on a new and sure footing more equal to its Western counterparts. Heading the drive is Dr Indira Anand, ...
Medical tourism sector yet to reach its full potential, suggests report
A survey published by medical tourism consultant Dr Prem Jagyasi suggests that people working in the medical tourism industry believe that their industry has yet to reach its full potential. The report also suggests that confusion, a lack of information and fear about complications following surgery are the main reasons for patient reluctance to cross international borders for health services. The "statistical findings" are based on the views of 95 people in medical tourism. However, the small sample size and inherent sample bias makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions from the report. The headline conclusion that “the medical tourism sector has yet to reach its full potential” is fairly predictable given that the respondents are those involved in promoting and running medical tourism businesses. Care must also be taken in considering the conclusions relating to the position of various countries within the marketplace. The nature of the respondent sample will have influenced the responses. Click here to continue reading [fb_like]
US Citizens now coming to India for cosmetic surgery- Fortis Hospital
The Fortis Hospital announced on Tuesday that its Medical Tourism Programme got a fillip, with US citizens now coming here for cosmetic surgery. As part of the programme, 21-year-old Samantha Lundy, a resident of North Carolina, USA, came to the hospital for cosmetic rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) and correction of ear deformity. The surgery was conducted by Dr Tejinder Bhatti, Consultant, Department of Plastic Surgery, who has over 20 years of experience and has trained at the world’s best plastic surgery centres at USA and UK Continue reading the article here [fb_like]