Punjab booming medical tourism in India

Aggarwal, an NRI settled in the US who has a cardiac problem is presently getting his treatment at Ludhiana's Dayanand Medical College, thanks to the high quality expertise of medical professionals, backed by the latest equipment and nursing facilities, and above all, the cost.

Varinder Singh, who has come from Holland for treatment said, "the first obstacle abroad is that of language, how do you tell them about your problem. There is a communication gap. If a doctor is unable to understand the patient's problem how is he going to treat his patients? Facility comes next, as firstly, you need proper communication".

India has been a prime tourist destination for foreign tourists because of its rich flora and fauna, mountains, rivers and historical monuments.

Presently India has also come to be known as a place for getting good health care facilities, whether it is hip replacement, brain surgery and even rejuvenation by traditional Indian medicines, and Punjab occupies a special pride in this.

• Dr Iqbal Singh Ahuja, one of the leading gynaecologists, who introduced the test-tube baby technology to northern India and has been successfully treating patients of infertility, said that the main reason that attracted patients to India was the emotional bondage the doctor developed with the patients.

"I think in India what we offer, is sympathy which is lacking in foreign countries. They are more like machines. They will not like you to have any emotional relationship with the doctor. They are just professional! And when they come to India, we are giving emotional support to the people who are coming for treatment for us," said Dr. Ahuja.

And these sentiments are shared by the patients as well.

As in industry and agriculture, Punjab today boasts of a world- class infrastructure for healthcare.

The hospital was recently inaugurated to bring healthcare of international standards within the reach of every individual. Like Apollo, many corporate groups like Escorts, CARE and the Hero Group have entered the healthcare business, making India a preferred medical destination.

• Satguru Pratap Singh Apollo Hospital: Satguru Pratap Singh Apollo hospital situated on the Delhi-Amritsar highway, is just a pearl in the ocean. Jagdeep Singh, direcotr at Satguru Pratap Singh Apollo Hospital said, "After all, the government is exiting from the healthcare business. They have no money to spend on healthcare business and all over the world the government are getting out of healthcare. It's coming into the private business. You don't see a new government hospital coming up. It is all private hospitals and private healthcare industry that will come to India. They have to come, but only thing we require from the government is that they give infrastructure status, subsidized land and electricity, and then we will be able to give our best to the people".

A Bone Marrow Transplant in the US costs four times more than in India. Same is the case with Liver Transplant and Heart Surgery, which are much cheaper in India compared to developed nations like US, Canada and UK.

• Dr Kohli, medical superintendent, Dayanand Medical College and hospital said, "The facilities that we are now having, the gazettes and the health care that we are now having in our country is now matching the healthcare you find abroad.

So people are now coming to India for treatment, which is what we call medical tourism. The reasons are, one they can visit their relatives, their home country, they have got facilities which are now at par with the West and the cost is definitely much less then what they are going to pay over there. Add to it, the waiting time in certain countries abroad where they have national health services procedures, which are so long that it is preferable to come down to their country, get your procedure done and get back".

Healthcare is a booming business for the Indian corporate sector and it also contributes to the country's economy and infrastructure development. Even if Punjab's corporate hospitals are at par, if not better than the best hospitals in Thailand and Singapore, there is scope for improvement, and Punjab may become a preferred medical destination. And India is certainly giving thought to this given the fact that the Indian Healthcare Federation is working with tour operators to promote attractive packages for medical tourism. (ANI)

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