More and more western patients seeking surgery are looking towards eastern destinations such as India, Thailand and Singapore for their medical needs, including orthopedic procedures.
The healthcare sector in this region has become a flourishing industry. As patients from Europe, the US and other affluent nations with high medical costs look for effective options, strong competition in the region among India, Thailand, Singapore and some other Asian countries are seen as increasingly favorable with their state of the art hospitals, salubrious climate and tourism appeal. Attractive and affordable medical packages have now been developed to include: airfare, surgery, meals and five star accommodations with an additional site-seeing option. A sample package for total knee or hip replacement surgery includes a 4 week stay for $15k, whereas the US, the cost is $30-40k for surgery only.
According to a study conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry and McKinsey in 2004, some 150,000 foreigners visited India for treatment, with the number rising by 15 per cent a year. "With an increasing number of foreign patients flocking to India for treatment, the country could earn Rs 100 billion (US$2.3 billion) through 'Medical Tourism' by 2012." Industry watchers say the medical tourism market will continue to growing at 30% per annum over the next six years.
With a large pool of highly trained doctors, well equipped facilities and minimal wait time at dramatically low prices, India aims to expand its outsourcing campaign to include the healthcare sector. Each year, 20-30,000 newly qualified medical professionals are available to offer their expertise in India. Foreign patients are exceptionally well cared for by a large staff of medical professionals, most of whom received training in the US and Europe.
Many of these private institutions are commonly referred to as "centers of excellence" for their spacious rooms, five-star amenities, supreme service and efficiency. Two examples of this kind of organization are the Bumrungrad Hospital in Thailand and the Apollo Group, a key player in India. The sleek new facilities aim to offer developed world treatment at developing world prices. Many of these centers are being run as corporations and five star hotels rather than ordinary medical institutions, which include restaurants, boutiques and daily specialty ayurvedic massage treatments. Upon arrival, patients are assigned a personal consultant and escort to provide specialized assistance throughout the entire trip.
The Apollo group is the largest hospital group in India and third largest in the world, having treated over 95,000 international patients from all over including nearby regions such as Africa and the Middle East. Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals has proposed sub-contracting healthcare from the NHS (National Health Service) in Britain to cut both the price and wait time for treatment in half. "They have a one million [person] waiting list for all kinds of things, especially orthopedic surgery," said an Apollo representative. Apollo and other private hospitals offer a wide range of joint replacement procedures at competitive prices.
| Nature of Treatment |
Approximate Cost in India ($) * |
Cost in other Major Healthcare Destination ($) * |
Approximate Waiting Periods in USA / UK (in months) |
| Complex spine surgery with implants |
4,300 |
> 13,000 |
9 - 11 |
| Simple Spine surgery |
2,100 |
> 6,500 |
9 - 11 |
| Hip Replacement |
4,300 |
> 13,000 |
9 - 11 |
Source: www.medical-tourism-india.com
Although there have been numerous successful cases and tempting benefits, prospective patients may have concerns when considering India or the Far East as a viable option for their medical needs. Americans in particular have to battle with lengthy flights, extended absenteeism on the job, and the impracticality of follow-up procedures. More importantly, patients need more information about safety as well as studies demonstrating good clinical outcomes.
Perhaps in the future, American HMOs will be sub-contracted by these corporate hospitals in order to bring relief to Americans with budget constraints. For now, this may be a more suitable solution for Europeans and nearby countries when seeking relief as well as relaxation.
