The term Medical Tourism has emerged from the practice of citizens of highly industrialized nations such as the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Western Europe etc. traveling to other countries around the globe to receive a variety of medical and healthcare services, mainly due to continually rising costs of the same services and procedures in their own countries. In addition, these people also take on the role of tourists, vacationing and taking advantage of all the major sites and attractions that these nations have to offer, in conjunction with receiving medical treatment.
Medical tourism is a phenomenon of people traveling to other countries to obtain medical, dental, and surgical care while at the same time touring, vacationing, and fully experiencing the attractions of the countries that they are visiting. Exorbitant costs of healthcare in industrialized nations, ease and affordability of international travel, favorable currency exchange rates in the global economy, rapidly improving technology and standards of care in many countries of the world, and most importantly proven safety of healthcare in select foreign nations have all led to the rise of medical tourism. More and more people are traveling abroad as an affordable, enjoyable, and safe alternative to having medical, dental, and surgical procedures done in their home countries.
India is giving Thailand stiff competition in healthcare services for overseas patients with cost of surgery lower by over 30% and in fact cheapest in entire southest Asia. Medical tourism in fast emerging as a big opportunity for India with its low cost advantage, high quality healthcare providers and an English speaking populance. The medical tourism market in India has been pegged to grow to around Rs 20, 000 CR by the next couple of years.
We realize that medical tourism can be a strange and daunting concept for many. And help you determine whether or not medical tourism is the best option for you. Take however long you need to explore. You absolutely do not want to rush into a decision like this. But when all is said and done, your medical bills, airfare, and accommodations could end up costing less than whatever deductibles and charges you would have to pay in your home country.