Fast Expanding Scope of Medical Tourism in India

India has a history of being the oldest health care system in the World. Ayurveda and Yoga are developments that date more than five thousand years back and are continuing till this date. The systems play an impressive role in promoting medical travel to India, and both disciplines are pioneers in creating cultural awareness globally.

An agglomeration that is more than 1.3 billion in population needs a robust health care system, and the planners have not let the country down. The government intends to boost the infrastructure further by spending 3 % of GDP by the year 2022. The market will be valued at 372 billion by 2022. These figures are bolstered by a large pharmaceutical industry which ranks high in exports as well. We are the largest producers of vaccines and generic medicines in the World. All these factors have propelled India into the global health care map.

The establishment of a large number of medical colleges has resulted in an impressive manpower base with diverse skills in the health sector. This has consequently resulted in the establishment of a large number of general and specialty hospitals, general and specialty health clinics, and primary health centers in rural areas pan India.

The country does not lag behind in top rung diagnostic labs and allied health services. There is an adequate number of man force with allied skills vital for the sound functioning of the health care systems. There are a number of specialists who excel in emerging technologies and procedures for treatments of rare and fatal diseases and anomalies in the human body.

The number of registered practitioners or doctors/surgeons stands at 1255786 in the country. With the establishment of more medical colleges, the number is going to rise further thus fulfilling the need for practitioners and specialist surgeons required to man such a vast health setup.

The health infrastructure can, by all means, be defined as robust and growth-oriented. This is also proven by growth in medical tourism in the country which averages 30 % annually.

Another feather in the cap is that India provides quality treatments, and state of art services at a much lower cost than the competitors based in ASIA, the EU, and the USA. This is not the only winning feature we can boast about with pride, the country is home to the finest tourism destinations as well. Health travel and tourism combine to form this sector we call medical tourism.

The impetus provided by the Government with the formation of the AYUSH Ministry, the easing of inbound VISA, and creating land infrastructures at a fast pace is another reason for the impressive growth. AYUSH ministry aims at promoting alternative health systems in the country. Inbound tour operators organize Ayurveda wellness camps in the hills. Frequent Yoga tours are organized for wellness and holiday experience.

Our hospitals now entertain patients from the developed world besides AFPAC, Africa, China, and the Indo-Pacific. With spectacular growth in medical tourism in India, the economy is slated to rise higher. Tourism along with medical services is one of the major foreign exchange earners in the country.

With the availability of low-cost treatment packages, cheap accommodations and travel cost more patients from across the World are seeking recourse to wellness here. The country adapts emerging health care technologies and disease treatment methodologies very quickly. It thus provides a wide range of solutions for rare and life-threatening ailments at affordable cost. This does not mean that the country lacks in standards, quality, and successful medical outcomes. The growth rate stands as vindication.