|
Medical Tourism:
India as a Medical Treatment Destination:
India is fast emerging as a favourite global health
destination, with medical tourism growing at 30% per
year. With prices at a fraction (sometimes only 1/10th!)
of those in the US or EU, the concept has broad consumer
appeal. Indian medical facilities offer advanced technology
and high-quality procedures on par with hospitals in
developed nations. Another important factor is the ready
availability of medical procedures in India compared
with wait times in the UK or US which may exceed several
months. India currently receives patients from over
50 countries across the world.
Visitors may utilize a medical visit with post-operative
recuperative packages that offer Indian traditional
renewal-cum-spiritual methodologies like Yoga, Ayurveda
and Meditation. Last but not least, India happens to
be one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations
with the Taj Mahal and other historical monuments of
a 3000 year-old civilisation, the great Himalayas, fantastic
beaches and wild-life sanctuaries that harbour the Royal
Bengal Tiger, One-horned Rhinos and majestic elephant
herds.
India benefits from a large number of world-class
medical experts, many of whom have post-graduate degrees
and training from well-known western medical colleges
and hospitals. Indian education system generates an
estimated 20,000 to 30,000 doctors and nurses each year.
A Case Study: Howard Staab, a 53-year-old
carpenter-contractor from North Carolina, was diagnosed
last year with a serious heart condition. Mr. Staab's
doctor recommended surgery as soon as possible. But
he had no health insurance. The estimate for hospital
care alone was nearly $100,000. The cost for the surgeon,
the cardiologist, the anesthesiologist, the radiologist,
and the pathologist, along with the cost of a heart
valve and prescription drugs, has brought the total
up to a staggering $200,000 - assuming no complications.
Howard Staab did some research and decided to go to
a well-known Hospital in New Delhi, where the estimated
cost was under $10,000, including airfare, surgery,
and rehabilitation! Howard Staab said, "I was apprehensive
in the beginning because I had no experience with India
or about the quality of care, and the situation there.
But my experience was superb. From the time we arrived
at the airport, Hospital people escorted us to the hospital,
gave us excellent care. The surgeons and all the staff
were extremely professional, kind and caring. Everything
went very well and I was so satisfied and impressed
with the care". ( Source: Mediescapes India)
Some cost saving figures at a glance
| Nature of Treatement |
Approximate cost in India(Dollar)
|
Cost in other Major Healthcare Destination
(Dollar) |
Approximate waiting periods in USA/UK
(in months) |
Open heart
surgery |
4,500 |
>18,000 |
9 - 11 |
| Cranio-facial
surgery and skull base |
4,300 |
>13,000 |
6 - 8 |
| Neuro-surgery
with Hypothermia |
6,500 |
>21,000 |
12 - 14 |
| Complex
spine Surgery with implants |
4,300 |
>13,000 |
9 - 11 |
| Simple spine
surgery |
2,100 |
>6,500 |
9 - 11 |
| Simple Brain
Tumor-Biopsy-Surgery |
1,000
4,300 |
>4,300
>10,000 |
6 - 8 |
| Parkinsons-Lesion-DBS |
2,100
17,000 |
>6,500
>26,000 |
9 - 11 |
Hip Replacement |
4,300 |
>13,000 |
9 - 11 |
(Source: Mediescapes India)
Here's a brief comparison of the cost of few of the
Dental treatment procedures between USA and India.
| Dental procedure |
Cost in
US
(US Dollar) |
Cost in
India
(US Dollar) |
| |
By General
Dentist |
By Top End
Dentist |
By Top End Dentist |
Simple designing |
- |
8,000 |
1,000 |
| Metal Free Bridge |
- |
5,500 |
500 |
| Dental Implants |
- |
3,000 |
800 |
| Procelain Metal Bridge |
1,800
|
3,000
|
300 |
| Procelain MetalCrown |
600
|
1,000
|
80 |
| Tooth impactions |
500
|
2,000
|
100 |
| Root canal Treatment |
600
|
1,000 |
100 |
| Tooth whitening |
350
|
800 |
110 |
| Tooth colored Composite
fillings |
200 |
500 |
25 |
| Tooth cleaning |
100 |
300 |
75 |
(Source: Mediescapes India)
Travel Tips:
India has a well-developed infrastructure of hotels,
domestic and international airlines and railways for
travelers. English language is widely understood at
all tourist locations. For useful travel tips covering
Indian Standard Time, Senior ravelers, Travel with Children,
Holidays, Photography, Shopping Tips etc. [more>>]
Kolkata & West Bengal:
About Kolkata, Home of Calcutta Medical Research Institute
(CMRI)
Situated on the Holy River, The Ganges, is still the
inspiration, as it was to Job Charnok, East India Company
agent, who reached the shores in August 1690 finally,
to settle here.
The City was founded 300 years ago . Once the capital
of British India (Till 1911), the capital of undivided
Bengal and now the capital of West Bengal since Independence.
Kolkata, on the east bank of river Hooghly (name of
the local stretch of the Ganges) retains the aura of
days long gone, weaving the past and the present, the
intense and the fun-loving into a charming fabric.
Home to five nobel laureates Ronald Ross (Medicine),
Sir C.V. Raman ( Physics), Rabindranath Tagore (Literature),
Mother Teresa (Peace)and Amartya Sen (Economics), Kolkata
is the nerve centre of intellect and human values, where
many modern movements began in art-cinema and theatre,
science and industry. India’s quest for freedom
began here.
Kolkata is the gateway to Eastern India. A city with
a rich heritage, bustling streets and bewildering variety
of facets. From October to March, Kolkata wears a radiant
look. Sunshine, mild winter, festive lights, colours,
fairs, festivals, galas and excursions, the mood is
infectious and spirit sweeping.
Note: Put the pics of Victoria Memorial, 2nd
Hoogly Bridge,Kolkata Metro,Nandan,Town hall,St pauls
Church, Kalighat and Dakhineswar.
Best Buys: Silk & Cotton sarees,
Handicrafts, Carpets, Jewelry, Shantiniketan style bags,
Bengali sweets.
Should not Miss Great Bengali Sweets:
relish the cottage-cheese based sweets like Sandesh,
Rosogolla and Chanar Payesh. Or have some Misti doi
(sweetened curd) and Patali gur confectionery (date
palm jaggery, only in winters).
Best Activities: Have a walk on Park
street , enjoy the Buggy ride near Victoria Memorial,
River-side views at Millennium Park on the Ganges.
Festivals: The world famous Durga
Puja is observed in October. Saraswati Puja, a celebration
for the goddess of learning in February. Other important
festivals are Kali Puja and Diwali.
Nearest Tourist Destinations: Shanti
Niketan (Home of Tagore’s Vishwa Bharati), Sunderban
(world’s biggest delta covered by Mangrove forest
and home of the Royal Bengal Tiger) , Bishnupur (Terra
Cotta Temples) , Bandel Church and Chandannagar(erstwhile
French settlement).
Best time to Visit: October to March.
About West Bengal
West Bengal, situated in Eastern India, is home to
802 million people, with Bengali as the language of
the majority. Hindi and English are also commonly used.
The majestic Himalayas are in the north, with town of
Darjeeling as a major tourist destination from where
glimpses of the Mount Everest (world’s highest
Peak) and Mount Kanchenjunga are viewer’s treat.
On the foothills of Dooars are located miles of Tea
Plantations and Wild-life Sanctuaries like Jaldapara
(home of Rhinos), Buxa etc.
Southern West Bengal has some beautiful beaches on
the Bay of Bengal (Digha, Shankarpur) and the Gangetic
Delta of Sunderban.
[ Provide links to wbtourism sites on WB]
|
