India has emerged as a prime destination for medical tourists from around the globe, with services offered ranging from executive health packages to complicated heart surgeries.
Medical travelers come to India from western nations to take advantage of the low cost of medical procedures, which are 40 to 80 percent less compared to healthcare costs in their home countries.
Medical tourists from Asia and Africa are attracted to India's superior quality in healthcare, accredited medical facilities, and western-trained qualified medical personnel.
Healthcare System in India
The low cost for healthcare is not the only driving force of medical tourism in India, as the level of healthcare service in the leading hospitals and medical centers is comparable to what is being offered in US and UK hospitals and superior to most Asian countries. Patients from western nations who opt for top notch accredited facilities will receive the same type of medical services in a manner that they are accustomed to, as doctors, nurses and other health professionals are trained and certified to western standards and practices.
Accreditation standards are controlled locally by the Indian Healthcare Federation, the Indian Medical Tourism Council and the Indian Ministry of Health. Accreditation of hospitals and other healthcare facilities are handled locally by the NABH or the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers, which is the constituent board of the QCIN or the
Quality Council of India. Some hospitals also have international accreditation by the Joint Commission International, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the British Standards Institute, or are affiliated with healthcare organizations and insurance companies in the US and the west.
Top Hospitals in India for Medical Tourism
Over 60 percent of medical tourists in India are catered to by top private hospitals, although there are state and public healthcare facilities that provide services to private customers as well as the general public. The top hospitals in India usually provide an end-to-end service that combines personalized services rendered in the hotel industry to top-of-the-line quality healthcare.
- Apollo Hospital Group
The Apollo Group is the largest corporate healthcare provider in Asia offering first-world facilities in third-world locations. Apollo Hospitals are the first JCI-accredited facilities in India and have grown to several world-class facilities including hospitals in Bangalore, Apollo Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Punjab and Apollo Kolkata. The Apollo Group is also affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Medicine International.
- Wockhardt Hospitals
With one hospital located in Bangalore and another in Mumbai, the Wockhardt Hospitals are exclusive institutions that are also affiliated with the Harvard Medical International, which is the international arm of the Harvard Medical School. Wockhardt is also approved and affiliated by the Blue Cross Blue Shield, a U.S. insurance company providing coverage to US medical travelers.
- Asian Heart Institute
Located in Mumbai and was first accredited by the JCI in October 2006. The Asian Heart Institute offers the best in cardiac care through highly trained doctors affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic, the Royal Children's Hospital and the London Chest Hospital.
- Browse our list of hospitals in India.
Common Procedures done in India by Medical Tourists
Hospitals and healthcare facilities in India offer a wide array of procedures and services for medical travelers, which include but are not limited to the following:
Cost of Medical Treatment in India
The following are cost comparisons between Medical procedures in India and equivalent procedures in the United States and the UK: [sources:
1,
2]
| Price Comparison with the US |
US Hospitals |
India |
Average Savings |
| Medical Procedures |
|
|
|
| Angioplasty |
$55,000 - $57,000 |
$10,000 - $12,000 |
78% - 81% |
| Spinal Fusion |
$60,000 - $62,000 |
$7,000 - $8,000 |
85% - 88% |
| Heart Bypass |
$120,000 - $130,000 |
$9,000 - $11,000 |
91% - 95% |
| Heart-valve Replacement |
$150,000 - $160,000 |
$9,000 - $10,000 |
94% - 96% |
| Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass |
$28,000 - $30,000 |
$10,000 - $12,000 |
60% - 64% |
| Hip Replacement |
$41,000 - $43,000 |
$8,000 - $10,000 |
76% - 80% |
| Mastectomy |
$39,000 - $41,000 |
$7,000 - $8,000 |
80% - 82% |
| Knee Replacement |
$38,000 - $40,000 |
$8,000 - $9,000 |
87% - 88% |
| Bone Marrow Transplant |
$240,000 - $260,000 |
$68,000 - $70,000 |
72% - 73% |
| Liver Transplant |
$290,000 - $310,000 |
$68,000 - $70,000 |
75% - 77% |
| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
|
|
|
| Face Lift (rhytidectomy) |
$7,000 - $9,000 |
$4,000 - $5,000 |
42% - 44% |
| Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty) |
$5,000 - $8,000 |
$3,000 - $4,500 |
40% - 44% |
| Breast Reduction |
$4,000 - $6,000 |
$2,000 - $3,000 |
48% - 50% |
| Complete Liposuction (Lipoplasty) |
$4,000 - $6,500 |
$2,000 - $3,500 |
46% - 50% |
| Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) |
$5,500 - $6,500 |
$1,500 - $2,500 |
61% - 72% |
| Gluteal Augmentation |
$8,000 - $10,000 |
$4,000 - $5,000 |
50% - 52% |
| Eye / Ophthalmology |
|
|
|
| Cataract surgery |
$1,500 - $2,500 |
$1,000 - $1,500 |
33% - 40% |
| General and Cosmetic Dentistry |
|
|
|
| Root Canal |
$600 - $1,000 |
$100 - $150 |
83% - 85% |
| Porcelain Crown |
$600 - $1,000 |
$80 - $100 |
87% - 90% |
| Porcelain Metal Bridge |
$1,000 - $1,800 |
$250 - $350 |
75% - 81% |
| Dental Implant |
$2,500 - $3,500 |
$500 - $800 |
77% - 80% |
| Price Comparison with the UK |
UK Hospitals |
India |
Average Savings |
| Medical Procedures |
|
|
|
| Coronary Angioplasty |
$13,000 - $15,000 |
$10,000 - $12,000 |
20% - 23% |
| Hip Replacement |
$13,500 - $14,500 |
$8,000 - $10,000 |
31% - 40$ |
| Knee Replacement |
$16,000 - $17,000 |
$8,000 - $9,000 |
47% - 50% |
| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
|
|
|
| Face Lift (rhytidectomy) |
$11,000 - $12,000 |
$4,000 - $5,000 |
65% - 75% |
| Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty) |
$7,000 - $8,000 |
$3,000 - $4,500 |
50% - 60% |
| Breast Reduction |
$8,000 - $9,000 |
$2,000 - $3,000 |
67% - 75% |
| Liposuction (lipoplasty) |
$5,000 - $6,000 |
$2,000 - $3,500 |
42% - 60% |
| Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) |
$5,500 - $6,500 |
$1,500 - $2,500 |
61% - 73% |
| General and Cosmetic Dentistry |
|
|
|
| Root Canal (per canal) |
$300 - $400 |
$100 - $150 |
62% - 67% |
| Dental Implants |
$3,000 - $4,000 |
$500 - $800 |
80% - 83% |
Malpractice and Liabilities Laws in India
Doctors in India are responsible for their activities and medical performance under the law. In India,
malpractice cases are handled by consumer courts and awards given are restricted only to the actual medical damage incurred.
Medical travelers to India are advised to make use of a specialized insurance company to insure their visit.
Pros
- Quality healthcare at probably the lowest costs possible
- Top hospitals offer high end medical, healthcare and diagnostic facilities
- English-speaking and western-trained doctors and health practitioners
- Minimal or no waiting time for medical attention and procedures
Cons
- Except for the top hospitals, minor institutions are lacking proper hospital accreditation systems
- Malpractice laws and implementations are still inefficient
- Infrastructure and facilities in the surrounding communities do not resemble western standards. Once you leave the hospital you are at your own risk.
- Certain cultural aspects as practiced by the locals may come as a culture shock for many foreign visitors. This includes aspects pertaining to religion, culture and even hygiene
Traveling to India
Average estimated travel time in hours
| From/To |
India |
| New York City |
16 |
| Los Angeles |
18 |
| Miami |
18 |
| Dallas |
18 |
| London |
7 |
| Paris |
10 |
| Rome |
9 |
| Dubai |
4 |
| Riyadh |
5 |
| Bangladesh |
2 |
| Pakistan |
2 |
| Johannesburg |
10 |
| Sydney |
13 |
Entry and Exit Requirements to India
Except for citizens from Nepal and Bhutan, all foreigners from other countries, including the European Union, United States and Canada, require a visa to enter India. India does not allow an "on arrival visa", thus visas should be obtained first from the Indian Embassy or consulate at the medical travelers country of origin.
Requirements to obtain a visa include: a passport valid for a minimum of 190 days, the visa fee, passport photographs and a filled-up application form. Supporting documents may be necessary to determine or justify the required length of stay, but for medical cases, a multiple entry for a period of 6 months to one year may be provided.
Statistics for India Medical Tourism
It is estimated that over 450,000 medical tourists traveled to India to seek healthcare in 2007, a tremendous growth from the estimated 150,000 in 2002. Experts agree that India's medical tourism industry is expected to keep growing in the coming years.