Medical Tourism In India

Shalby Centre of Excellence: Catalyzing the Prospects of Medical Tourism in Gujarat
The buzz around the concept of patients travelling across borders to get quality health care, also popularly called Medical tourism or health tourism, has touched high notes. Not that it is a new concept because thousands of years ago in ancient Greece, patients came from all over the Mediterranean and wealthy Europeans travelled to spas from Germany to the Nile in 18th Century. A CII-McKinsey study on healthcare says medical tourism predicts Rs 5,000- Rs 10,000 crore market for tertiary hospitals by 2012. However, one needs to look at various factors that push the potential of India as a Medical Tourism hub. One of the best indicators, of growth in the sector is the number of institutes/ organizations that provide health care of international standards and steadily build up as brand of quality health service in the minds and hearts of its clientele.

Shalby on the Medical Tourism Map
Shalby hospitals founded in 1994 by Dr Vikram Shah – the doyen of Knee Replacement surgery in Indian and abroad, began with Total Knee Replacement Surgery and its reputation as the premier centre for TKR is established and keeps growing all over India and among international clientele. Mostly medical travel is about keeping the costs down, saving time while waiting for turns, ease and affordable International travel and a the high reputation of Indian doctors in the west particularly US and Europe. Shalby fulfills all these with the quality of care equal to or even better than hospitals in the United States or Europe. Also being placed in Gujarat gives it gets a distinct and advantageous edge.

Medical Tourism: Advantage Gujarat
Gujarat has various advantages and the large population base of Non Resident Gujaratis living in the UK and USA is one of the major ones. A total of 20 million-plus Indians are spread across the world out of which 6 million are Gujaratis which comes to 30 per cent of the total NRI population. The NRGs not only come to India for personal and medical visits but become an important link in spreading the word by way of mouth, building awareness about medical facilities available and also catalyzing and influencing patient choices. Also, Indian doctors, particularly Gujaratis enjoy a high reputation as doctors in the developed countries and keep participating in world medical conferences to update themselves of the latest developments in the medical field.

Among the other advantages are the highly qualified specialists in the field of Cardiology, Joint Replacements, Urology, Embryology, Orthodontics, Oncology and Orthopedics. The facilities and equipment available at the hospitals are comparable with the best hospitals in the country and even the world. The other major advantage the big industries in the field of Pharma and Bio-technology which are located in Gujarat. Its close association with health industry is an important factor that catalyzes the medical tourism factor. The prospect of Gujarat turning into medical tourism hotspot is immense, the indication of which can well be seen in Anand which has already turned into a global destination for couples seeking fertility treatment.

Not to forget the proactive approach of the state government that announced a medical tourism policy in 2006, aimed at better health care facilities and exposure for the medical fraternity. Under this policy a ‘Medicity' is also being set up sate of the art health facilities.