Medical Tourism in India : Management and Promotion

Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Perspective of tourism: the height of credibility. 2. What is medical tourism? 3. Growth of the medical tourism industry in Asia. 4. Realities of India as a health tourism destination. 5. India\'s islands of medical and surgical excellence. 6. How to promote medical tourism in India? 7. Common surgical interventions sought by foreign patients. 8. How much can you save by your world-class treatment in India? 9. Foreign medical tourists: some illustrative examples. 10. Kerala the God\'s own paradise. 11. Medical tourism and healthcare services. 12. Medical tourism as a distortion of priorities. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.

"Every year thousand of visitors are coming to India from around the world for various types of surgeries related to bone, skin or liver or eye and others. Medical tourism is fast emerging as a big opportunity for India with its low cost advantage, high quality healthcare and an English speaking populace. The notion that catering to the needs of foreigners or rich Indian patients will be at the cost of poor Indian citizens appears misplaced. In fact, these are private facilities and are created as a business venture by the Indian industry for a niche market. The government can set up a good public health system, which can be facilitated by the revenue earned from taxes and royalty from the private sector. If India makes medical tourism a success, it will spur more investment in healthcare, greater research and development in medical field and reversal of brain drain. This will also act as an engine of all round growth and development for the country. With enhanced investment in healthcare sector and setting up of new hospitals/Medicare cities the healthcare will definitely improve for the countrymen. With participation from the world renowned hospitals like Harvard Medical International, Mayo Clinic, Boston University and others in our Medicare city chain India will become a leader in healthcare. India can follow the model of Dubai Health Care City (DHCC). Chandigarh can take a lead by setting up Chandigrah Medicare City (CMCC), followed by the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal, etc." (jacket)