Medical tourism involves traveling to another country for medical treatment. Traditionally, people from less developed countries traveled to more developed countries for unavailable treatments, but now people also travel from developed to developing countries for lower costs. Reasons for medical tourism include obtaining illegal treatments in the home country or accessing rare disease experts. Risks include medical issues like blood clots. The process typically involves working with a medical tourism provider who helps with treatment and travel logistics. Popular destinations include Costa Rica, Greece, Mexico, Thailand, and India, which offers treatments at much lower costs than Western countries. Medical tourism is growing in India and could generate $5-10 billion in revenue annually by 2012.

2. Medical tourism or health tourism is the travel of people to another country for the
purpose of obtaining medical treatment in that country. Traditionally, people would
travel from less developed countries to major medical centres in highly developed
countries for medical treatment that was unavailable in their own communities.The
recent trend is for people to travel from developed countries to third world countries for
medical treatments because of cost consideration, though the traditional pattern still
continues. Another reason for travel for medical treatment is because some treatments
may not be legal in the home country, such as some fertility procedures.
Some people travel to obtain medical surgeries or other treatments. Some people go
abroad for dental tourism or fertility tourism. People with rare genetic disorders may
travel to another country where treatment of these conditions is better understood.
However, virtually every type of health care, including psychiatry, alternative treatments,
convalescent care and even burial services are available.
Medical tourists are subject to a variety of risks, which may include deep vein
thrombosis, tuberculosis, amoebic dysentery, paratyphoid, poor post-operative care,
and/or others.

3. The typical process is as follows: the person seeking medical treatment abroad contacts a medical
tourism provider. The provider usually requires the patient to provide a medical report, including
the nature of ailment, local doctor’s opinion, medical history, and diagnosis, and may request
additional information. Certified physicians or consultants then advise on the medical treatment.
The approximate expenditure, choice of hospitals and tourist destinations, and duration of stay,
etc., is discussed. After signing consent bonds and agreements, the patient is given
recommendation letters for a medical visa, to be procured from the concerned embassy. The
patient travels to the destination country, where the medical tourism provider assigns a case
executive, who takes care of the patient's accommodation, treatment and any other form of care.
Once the treatment is done, the patient can remain in the tourist destination or return home.

4. Costa Rica: Joint Commission International accredited private hospitals, state-of-the-art-
equipment, proximity to the United States and Canada, English-speaking medical
personnel, highly trained doctors, dentists, oral surgeons, and cosmetic surgeons with
costs generally up to 70% of what would be paid in the United States.
Greece: Greece is becoming increasingly popular as destination for high quality cosmetic
surgery especially for patients from United Kingdom. Because Greece is a member of the
European Union, its health industry is kept to a good standard and under thorough
checks and safety regulations. In private sector the Metropolitan Hospital in Athens is
regarded as being the best in Greece, and the plastic surgeons associated with that
hospital are among the best. Greece is also traditionally regarded as a popular tourist
destination and therefore its tourism and service sectors are well developed. The
widespread knowledge of English language among the general population is also an
advantage.
Mexico: Dental care is the best deal here. Being a border country with the United States,
the benefit is obvious. Many people in the Border states often travel to Mexico for Dental
Care and minor checks out of convenience, and the quality in Private Clinics and
Hospitals is just about the same.

5. USA: The US has an unheralded advantage in medical tourism. The US has a reputation
for leading edge technological innovation and this is particularly true in the area of
medicine. Inbound medical tourists to the US are not motivated by price, but by the
highest levels of medical skill and technology. Inbound medical tourists come to the US
to obtain procedures when specific qualifications are needed, or to use technology not
available in their own countries. Some simply travel for the luxury of a vacation they can
combine with their medical procedure.
Thailand: Thailand has emerged in recent years as one of the top destinations in the
world for medical tourism. It has highly accredited hospitals and specialists, growing
infrastructure with low labor costs resulting in lower treatment costs. Thailand has
achieved this status due to a constellation of key factors that make the country a very
attractive destination for medical tourists. Its hospitals are modern and of the highest
standard, with 30 having achieved JCI accreditation. Many of its doctors are Western-
trained and certified, and the medical staff are highly professional, skilled, and
experienced in managing foreign patients. Finally, the costs are dramatically lower than
comparable healthcare in the West, frequently 50-70% less.

8. The medical tourism in India has been increasing every year for the spectrum
of treatments that are being offered in most major hospitals which are:-
Cardiac Surgery
Orthopedics
Gynecology
Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery
Obesity surgery
Ophthalmology
Dentistry
Urology

9. India offers World Class Medical Facilities, comparable with any of the
western countries. India has state of the art Hospitals and the best
qualified doctors. With the best infrastructure, the best possible Medical
facilities, accompanied with the most competitive prices, you can get
the treatment done in India at the lowest charges.
India is in the process of becoming the “Global Health Destination”
The cost of medical services in India is almost 30% lower to that in
Western countries and the cheapest in South-east Asia.
Indian hospitals excel in cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, joint
replacements, transplants, cosmetic treatments, dental care, orthopedic
surgery

13. Medical Tourism is poised to be the next Indian success story after Information
Technology.
According to a CII study the Industry’s earning potential estimated at Rs.5000-
10000 Crore by 2012.
Medical tourism can contribute Rs 5,000- 10,000 Crore additional revenue for up-
market tertiary hospitals by 2012and will account for 3-5% of the total healthcare
delivery market.
In terms of location- Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai cater to the
maximum number of the health tourists and are fast emerging as medical tourism
hubs