Medical Tourism in India

As India's world class hospitals lure foreign tourists, India has become a
major destination for Health Tourism.

44 year old June Profitt had her knee replaced at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.
When she went to Nottingham Hospital, it had a six year waiting list. Her
Indian Doctor told her to go to India for treatment. She looked up the Net
and spotted Apollo Chennai. They corresponded with the Hospital. ' I paid $
4000, which included a 10 day stay at Sterling Beach Resort. Back home it
would have cost $ 10000. Now I am not scared that I would scream in pain
when I put my foot down. And what better place to recuperate than a Beach
Resort".

Another British national, Gregory Bates suffered a heart attack while
holidaying in Goa.' I had the choice to go back home for the bypass", he
said "But I chose to stay on. My family was concerned but having heard about
Indian medical expertise, I was confident that I was in safe hands. The
pre-operative support of Wockhardt Heart Institute in Bangalore while I was
in Goa proved that I would get uncompromised care." . "
His successful surgery is an indicator that heart surgery in India is on par
with the world", said Dr Vivek Jawali, chief cardiovascular surgeon at
Wockhardt who operated on Bates.

"At this juncture we cannot sit back", said Dr P C Reddy. " We have
everything to move ahead." The private sector has already offered to help.
The makeover is striking, hospital floors are squeaky clean and interiors
complete with those of Five Star Hotels. Many hospitals have prayer rooms,
translators, visa extension and currency exchange services. The Narayana
Hrudayalaya Hospital in Bangalore had 8000 patients from Bangladesh last
year. Apollo Chennai is referring many a patient for alternative therapy to
Soukya, a holistic health center in Bangalore.

Bates and Profitt experienced Indian medical efficiencey. Indian health care
made headlines when Dr D Shetty closed a hole in the heart of Noor Fatima, a
child from Pakistan last year. The father of Noor Fatima, A I Ramadhan, had
requested the help of the Indian cricket team which was then touring
Pakistan last year. The Indian cricket team relayed the message back home.
The Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital at Bangalore offered to help, to give free
surgery to the child. She was successfully operated. After that, the number
of patients coming to Indian hospitals from West Asia & the West increased
considerably. Last year saw 150,000 foreing patients visting India for
treatment.

Quality medical care is the mantra and Dr S K Sama sees tremendous potential
for Indian medical expertise, holistic and otherwise. ' Professional
expertise in the country is as good as in the best hospitals abroad",
remarks he . " We give personalised attention at much lower costs but
provide top of the line services. In five years, things would be totally
different. Europeans will be seeking health care here. "

Robert Peter Mutton was another Briton who got treated at economical rates.
He was holidaying in Kochi when his gall bladder started acting up. "I just
spent Rs 64000, which is amazing" said Robert Peter Mutton. They went to
Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi. " I would have spent $ 10000 in London" said
Mutton after treatment. "There is no difference between doctors here and
back home"

It was the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, founded by a
spiritual giant, Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi (
http://www.amritapuri.org/ ), which cured Yan Zheng, a receptionist from
China. Cancer struck Yan when she was working in Beijing. She got treated at
Shanghai but she lost her left eye, the upper jaw, half the lower jaw &
facial nerves as a bye-product.

When she met the CEO of AIMS, Dr Kuriakose, he recommended India. The
doctors at AIMS did four surgeries on her and now she is all right. The four
reconstructive surgeries cost her Rs 3 lakh. It would have cost her 18 lakhs
in the US.

Integrated Medicine is just common sense. The diseases which are not cured
by Allopathy can be cured by other alternative therapies. For surgeries and
immediate relief, one can rely on Allopathy. Ayurveda will take care of the
diseases which need long cure, as it no side effects. .

Medical Training in India

Now professionals, particularly Asian, are happy about being trained in
India, despite the West's formidable reputation as the last word in higher
education in Medicine.

Dr Amit Shrestha and his wife, Dr Shrishti, found it convenient to do their
MD in Bangalore at Manipal Hospital. They had come from Nepal. While Amit
is training to be a cardiologist, his wife wants to be a dermatologist. "
Indian Doctors are world renowned. If we train in India, our respect back
home would grow tenfold", said Amit.

"It was a great experience ", says Clara Perinchery , a German-born MD
student, who came to Lakeshore Hospital & Research Center in Kochi, to learn
about tropical countries. Dr M Abdul Hannan said " I enjoy working here.
Where else would I have learnt so much ? ". He is training at Escorts Heart
Institute & Research Center, Delhi & he admitted that he was inspired by the
Chief Cardiologist, Dr Naresh Trehan.
Ayurveda

The motto of Ayurveda is " Progress Through Research " ( Anusandanena
Abhyudayam ).