How does India stand In Terms Of Healthcare in Worldview?

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Over the past few decades, India has been advancing in medicine by leaps and bounds. Its path-breaking innovations on the medical frontier coupled with excellently skilled medical staffing and relatively reasonable pricing, has attracted patients from all over the world. These factors have made India the best destination for medical tourism in the world.

What India provides is a contrast in the price range to the exorbitant medical attention costs in developed European countries and America. It costs roughly $1800 for a state-of-the-art heart surgery in India, which is like 2% of the $90,000 that an average heart surgery costs in the United States.

A medical procedure comparison shows India to be the cheapest when it comes to medical procedures. A Gastric bypass procedure would cost someone roughly $25,000 in the USA, and $12,900 in Costa Rica, $10,900 in South Korea. But the same procedure would only cost $7,000 if done in India.

There is no surprise as to why people all around the world opt travelling to India. Patients in the USA and even elsewhere realise that to get medical treatment in India is overall cheaper, even if they include the travelling and lodging costs.

What Visa Would You Need for Medical Tourism in India?

Yes, it has now dawned on you that travelling to India to get medical attention is a good choice, you might be wondering what visa would you ideally need to apply for, to get into India for a treatment.

In the light of a massive inflow of patients from all over the world, the Indian Government has now issued a specialised Medical Tourist visa for India.

The nature of the visa remains the same, regardless of which country you apply for it from. You could be a resident of US, UK, South Africa, Australia, or any of the European countries even.

Foreigners seeking medical treatment in India can avail the medical visa and fly over to India to be treated under world-class doctors and cutting edge technology, for less than half the rate.

How Long Would Your Visa Be Valid For And Can You Extend It?

Wondering how long would your visa allow you to stay in the country? The Indian Government gives an affirming nod towards the fact that this is no leisure requirement, and certain procedures may be troublesome too.

Considering the recovery and the well-being of the patient that comes in for treatment here, the Indian Government grants an initial period of up to a year on the medical tourist visa for India.

However, if there is a requirement for an extension thereon, it would be granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs solely on the recommendations of the State Government or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO). This recommendation would be supported by medical documents.

A medical tourist visa would allow a foreigner a maximum of three entries into the country, over a span of one year. The State government or the FRRO may allow another additional entry if an emergency situation demands it so.

What Are The Requirements You Would Need To Know?

Apart from being sick enough to want to travel to a relatively cheaper place to get treated, there are certain requirements one needs to look into.
For those seeking medical tourist visas from any of the following countries need to procure a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate as per the Government of India directives: Kenya, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Israel, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Somalia.

Travelers from these countries need to have Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) Certificate which has to be taken six weeks prior to their entry into India.
The OPV is obligatory for adults and children.

Every medical document you submit, regardless of your nationality, would be checked by the Indian Missions and Posts that are placed in your respective countries. These would confirm whether the request for the medical visa is a genuine one or not.

Apart from that, a person applying for a medical tourist visa in India would need to also provide satisfactory details to the ideal plan they have opted for, what is the initial medical advice they received from the country of their origin which consequently led them to go for the special treatment abroad.

It is, however, important to note that one can get a medical tourism visa in India only for treatment in reputed and recognized medical centres.

Paperwork and Documentation Needed To Get a Medical Tourism Visa

Here is a list of important documents you would need to submit in order to apply for a medical tourism visa:

  • Passport with 6 months validity.
  • Recent Passport size photographs.
  • Photocopy of the passport.
  • For applicants under the age of 18, a non-objection certificate signed by both parents is needed.
  • Copy of the online visa application form.
  • Proof of residential address.
  • Proof of required funds.
  • Recommendation from the home country doctor to visit particular specialised medical centre for treatment.
  • Medical documents of the treatments that are done.
  • Passport copy of attendant.
  • Proof of relation with attendant.

Once you arrange this set of important documents required for medical visa to India, you are just a few steps away from receiving quality medical treatment at an unbelievable price.

How to Apply For an India Medical Tourist Visa?

There is not a major difference in applying for a tourist visa and a medical tourist visa.

The procedure of getting Medical tourism visa is more or less the same as that of getting a normal tourist visa.

The only point of difference you would ideally come across is the part where you would have to mention your purpose of entering India (which would be “availing a medical treatment”).

Once you do that, you would have to fill respective forms stating the nature of your disease and why you would opt getting treated in India.

Cost of Medical Tourism Visa

Depending upon which country you are applying for the medical visa from, the visa fees varies.

Different countries have different systems to go through, so as to avail a medical visa, and this might reflect in the costing.

For US and UK nationals, the medical visa to India fees work out as below

1 – US (12 months – triple entry)
Consular fee – $140
ICW fee – $3
Service fee – $4.70
TOTAL = $147.70

2 – US (6 months – triple entry)
Consular fee – $100
ICW fee – $3
Service fee – $4.70
TOTAL = $107.70

3 – UK (12 months or 6 months – triple entry)
Consular fee – $129
ICW fee – $3
Service fee – $4.70
TOTAL = $136.70

To Wrap It Up

Getting medical treatment from a place that offers you best quality medication and leaves your pockets jingling is a wiser choice to make.
All you need is to run your research horses and settle on the best plan you can opt for, check for reviews multiple times, and then make a call.

It would not ideally be too hard for you to get through with your visa process with a genuine reason at hand. And if you have been worried about your condition but the price of availing medical help has been a barrier then help is at hand.

Explore your options through medical tourism in India and get high-impact medical expertise at a fraction of the cost.

5 Medical Value Travel Factors That Help You Choose The Right Hospital in India

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The medical value travel industry has been steadily progressing over the last few decades, and now more than 12 million people travel abroad for medical treatment each year. More and more hospitals are opening in developing countries to accommodate the ever-increasing demand for medical tourism as the cost of healthcare in the Western nations continues to rise at alarming rates. Along with the rising number of international hospitals and healthcare centers opening around the world, the standards of care are also rapidly rising. This high quality of care would continue into the future, as hospitals look to attract international customers to their facilities for service.

India is one of many countries rapidly developing its medical tourism industry. India has seen about 1,78,000 tourists visiting the country for medical purposes in the year of 2016 alone. The major share of tourists was from the US, UK, and Canada. Rest of the tourists were from the countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China. Such tourism popularity for India is mainly due to some of the defining factors mentioned below:

 

1) Checking Hospital’s Credentials:
Many hospitals in developing countries partner to get international accreditations ensuring that basic international health standards are met by the facility. Ensuring you choose accredited hospitals helps make sure that you are receiving treatment in a hygienic atmosphere where risks of illness/diseases/etc are minimal. These are usually hospitals associated with the country’s best medical universities. These universities provide doctors and medical personnel who are trained there with the highest standards of education and training in their fields.

These larger health institutions also provide the most advanced medical equipment available. This is possible as their available funds and resources than any single member institution would usually have. They also have more specialty areas, as their medical facilities are bigger and have more specialized staff and equipment available to serve patients with. These are the best facilities to choose, as they have the most experience performing a variety of procedures.

2) Death/Disease Risks Associated With Treatments:

Hospitals’ success rates keep track of how much percent of the patients leave the facility satisfied. The higher the success rate, the less likely that hospital is to lose patients in the future. These success rates also account for things like patient morbidity (death) and/or rates of infection/illness among admitted patients. Cases of re-admission are also considered when determining a hospital’s success rate. Reading into a hospital’s success rate can tell you your chances of dying while receiving treatment, contracting a horrible disease, or having to be re-admitted to do a poor job done by the hospital staff. Most internationally-accredited hospitals have negligible rates of error, and risks are considered minimal. Choosing facilities with the lowest risks of death/illness/disease possible ensures the safest experience you can have. Being treated at an internationally – accredited hospital in a developing country generally holds no greater risk than being treated in a hospital in places like the US, UK, or Canada.

 

3) Determining A Hospital’s Specialties:

Most hospitals provide treatments for many conditions, however, each one has a few specialty treatments or services they are renowned for. Patients are advised to choose a hospital that specializes in the procedure or surgery in which they seek treatment. As more and more developing countries obtain newer, more advanced technology, more and more facilities are offering more invasive procedures. This is also being done so more safely. Modern technology combined with doctors’ knowledge of medicine has made it very safe to get procedures done in developing countries. Due to lower labor costs and taxation rates, however, getting these same procedures in developing countries is much more affordable than getting the same treatment in Western countries.

 

For example, hospitals in Bangalore (India) are worldwide famous for orthopedic procedures like hip replacements. Fortis Escorts Heart Institutes (FEHI) hospitals undertake almost any heart or cardiovascular procedure imaginable. This includes care from the prenatal stages all the way through the oldest of patients. Other prominent states like Maharashtra, which receives about 28.5% of India’s medical tourists and Tamil Nadu attracts another 15.7% of India’s medical tourists. Benefits of medical tourism for India come in the form of people paying treatment, as they come in from abroad to receive quality treatment. This is estimated to be a $7-8 billion industry in India by 2020. Reasons for medical tourism vary greatly, but most hospitals or cities have specialties that people seek treatment for like people traveling to Bangalore for orthopedic treatments.

 

) Accepted Payment Methods:
Most hospitals provide many various options for payment methods to help make it more convenient for patients. Online payments have become a popular way to pay for medical treatments, especially for international patients who are being treated abroad. This allows payments to be made from any part of the world virtually instantly.

Most hospitals and facilities also offer other payment options for those not familiar with online payment methods. Patients should check ahead of time with the medical facility to see which types of payments they accept. Many hospitals and healthcare facilities offer payments in almost any other method you can come up with including cheques, money orders, debit cards, credit cards, and in rare cases although it’s not advised cash. It is also an advisable practice to pay before undergoing the procedure. This is because health insurance usually does not cover medical care provided abroad.

5) Individualized Care:
For a hospital to be reputable and business oriented, they must provide the services that medical tourists are seeking. International hospitals are the prime examples of facilities that cater to a variety of patients from various ethnicities, cultures, religions, and backgrounds. You can travel to any internationally-renowned hospital that is accredited by international organizations like the Joint Commission International (JCI), and know that you will be treated with dignity and respect during your stay. To treat patients with anything than total respect would run the risk of the hospital building a bad international reputation. It would risk being banned as a recommended facility for treatment. This ruins the reputation that these facilities cannot afford to lose, therefore respecting every individual patient is paramount to their international reputation and success as the best medical tourist destination hospitals.

However, having said that, each hospital does have certain policies and procedures in place as to how they ensure patients being treated well during their stay. It is the responsibility of the patients to do thorough research into the facility they will be staying at. Contact the facility with any questions you may have, prior to your arrival for medical treatment. Ask any question you may have after reviewing their website and going through all the information provided in it. Learn much as you can. Be an educated tourist and consumer. Notify the facility ahead of time of any special lifestyle or religious accommodations you may need (i.e. kosher food, vegan/vegetarian diets, etc.) or personal lifestyle needs (i.e. allergies, health conditions, phobias, etc). This ensures the best chance of you receiving the care you need during your stay. Be reasonable with your expectations, and the facility will be happy to accommodate your individualized needs.

In A Nutshell:
When one undertakes the responsibility to do proper research, excellent care can be available in many various medical tourists’ destinations abroad. Medical tourism benefits include saving a lot of money on a procedure that needs to be performed, or elective surgeries people opt to have (i.e. plastic surgery, dental procedures, etc.). Even after traveling expenses, people can expect to spend a fraction of what they would in overpriced Western nations for the same care.

7 Things A Medical Value Travel Patient Should Avoid

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Medical Value Travel is a growing trend these days. The idea of getting medically treated, along with basking in the beautiful locales of foreign destinations at the same time can be exhilarating. This has begun to capture the fancy of people worldwide, with India, Malaysia and Mexico being amongst the most preferred destinations.

 

Medical tourism provides cost-effective treatments that may not be available in the home country, along with the opportunity to explore a new place and culture. This blissful experience can turn sour if the patient does not make a well informed decision.

 

Listed below are some major follies, which should be avoided as a medical tourist, so as to have a pleasant and purposeful trip:

 

Choosing Non-Accredited Hospitals

It is very essential to ensure that the chosen hospital is accredited, i.e. “approved by an official review board like NABH,JCI  after the hospital has met all the standards set for medical tourism”. An NABH OR JCI accredited hospital has to abide by internationally accepted rules and regulations regarding medical code and professional ethics.

 

By choosing an accredited hospital, the patient safeguards his right to quality health care and globally recognized medical procedures. A non-accredited hospital has little reason to show its patients any transparency. Some insurance companies can also refuse to cover the cost of treatment accorded by non-accredited hospitals.

 

Making Decisions Purely Based On Costs

Attributing cost the highest priority, when deciding on a destination for treatment, is a grave error. More often than not, in the effort to save money, the patient can end up compromising on quality of healthcare to a critical extent.

 

An MTA Medical Tourism Patient Survey, conducted in 2013, found that nearly 80% of the demand for medical travel is driven by cost savings. This is acceptable, provided that the patient still has satisfaction and health as prime concerns.

 

While budgeting the trip and other medical expenses is important, it should never be at the cost of quality care.

 

Things a Medical Tourist Should Avoid

While planning a trip, remember that quality always overrides cost.

 

Not Taking A Second Opinion

It is always advisable to take a second opinion before proceeding with any kind of medical treatment or surgery. In the case of medical tourism, a second consultation is doubly weighted as this makes the patient aware of all his/her options. A second opinion is also required by many insurance companies to provide monetary coverage.

 

Not taking a second opinion may lead to the patient having an incomplete knowledge of his/her need for treatment, which will indirectly lead to poor decisions.

 

Being Uninformed About The Procedure

This is one of the most common reasons why patients are left unsatisfied with the end result of their medical treatment. Being ill-informed about the details of the procedure, recovery time and its side-effects may leave the patient with unsettled expectations.

 

The patient should gather maximum information about the treatment, to be mentally and physically prepared for every situation.

 

Going Without A Travel Companion

 

Medical tourism trips can be strenuous enough without having to deal with appointments, buying medicine and making payments all by yourself. It is always better to have a spouse, friend or parent, travel and stay with the patient throughout your treatment. They will not only help with the nuisances of the procedure, but will also provide the emotional support s/he requires.

 

Not Getting Tourism Insurance

 

Tourism insurance shields a patient financially from any extremity that happens on a medical tourism visit, such as scheduled appointments, complications and travel emergencies. Medical tourism without insurance can prove costly if things ever go awry.

 

Things to be Avoided by a Medical Tourism Patient

In cases of complications, a medical travel insurance coverage can save as much as $50,000.

 

 Not Going Through Contracts Thoroughly

 

It is very important to read the hospital contracts (including the fine print) in its entirety, so that the patient is fully aware of the terms and conditions of his/her stay at the hospital, including payment options. The patient should always read through every line and clause, so that s/he knows what exactly s/he is signing up for.

What can a medical tourism facilitator do for a patient?

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A medical tourism facilitator company is a one-stop-solution offering integrated knowledge of medical services, tourism & travel facilitation and concierge services to form a three-dimensional support system to the traveller. So with such responsibilities resting on them, the medical tourism facilitator plays an important function of bridging the gap between industry players and the consumer.

 

  1. One stop solution: A facilitator provides comprehensive support services including medical arrangements, travel and tourism arrangements, concierge solutions and communication.
  2. Relationship management: A good facilitator can provide comprehensive relationship management in case the patient needs to communicate with insurance companies, governments or their employer—bodies that sponsor medical tourism activities.
  3. Know how: Facilitators are experts and they know how to handle situations related to medical tourism. They are experts in all aspects of medical tourism arrangement except providing medical services.
  4. Negotiate better: A good facilitator negotiates better on your behalf, and therefore might be able to reduce the cost for you whenever needed. A patient might not be able to understand additional expenses charged by a hospital, so a good facilitator should be able to help.
  5. Travel & logistics partner: A facilitator is an expert and partner for your travel and logistics requirements. They know what arrangements patients would ideally require, and could create customized arrangements based on your needs.
  6. Representative: The facilitator could also be a formal representative on your behalf to communicate with your family and friends about your condition and status.

Continuity of care: This is one of the most important job responsibilities of a facilitator—to make sure that your healthcare provider has prepared sufficient arrangements for your post-operative care during medical tourism