Category Archives: Reports,Features, Statistics

Mumbai :

India is placed among the top three medical tourism destinations in Asia, mainly due to the low cost of treatment, quality healthcare infrastructure and availability of highly-skilled doctors, says a study.

“Within Asia, India, Thailand and  Singapore  are the three countries that receive maximum medical tourists owing to low cost of treatment, quality healthcare infrastructure, and availability of highly-skilled doctors.

(India is known for cost-effective…)

“These three countries together accounted for about 60 per cent of the total Asian revenue in 2012,” the report Medical Value Travel  in India by KPMG and FICCI said.

The research was conducted in India and other Asian countries and interviewed public sector stakeholders and domestic company heads or CEOs of renowned hospitals between July and August 2014.

Estimated at $ 78.6 billion as of 2012, the sector has emerged as one of the largest sectors in India and is poised to grow at an annual rate of 15 per cent to reach about $ 158.2 billion by 2017, it said.

It pointed out that Asian countries have introduced various marketing strategies to attract medical tourists.

In the past few years, Asia has taken the lead as one of the most preferred destination for medical value travel. Primary growth levers in this regard include low priced treatment options, availability of variety of treatments, improved infrastructure in terms of healthcare facilities and attractive locations for spending time after treatment.

While Thailand positions itself as a dual purpose destination for both medical and economic holiday with an attractive location, Singapore promotes itself as a destination for fine quality in medical treatment.

India is known mostly for its cost-effective medical treatments along with high standards in cardiology, orthopaedics, nephrology, oncology and neuro surgery, it said.

The country is also known for its alternative treatment options such as yoga and ayurveda , it said.

The leading destinations of medical tourism in India are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, New Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, the report said.

India receives medical tourists from across the globe, however, developing and underdeveloped countries form a major portion of the pie.

SAARC countries in particular, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka are a major source of medical tourists owing to the physical proximity and political co-operation agreements, it said.

It further said that the private sector has been largely responsible for improvement in the Indian healthcare services.

While India scores over other countries in certain parameters like affordable hotels, cultural adaptability, there is still a long way to go, the report said.

To make India the most preferred destination for medical care there is a need to improve air connectivity, food options, cultural adaptability, language interpretors, affordable accommodation and less waiting time at airport, as these parameters help patients make a decision in choosing a destination for medical travel, it added.

source: http://www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home> Healthcare / PTI / September 01st, 2014

Turkey is fast becoming a top medical tourism destination for the Gulf and other Arab countries, a report said.

Many patients are opting Turkey for a nip, tuck, laser eye surgery or hair transplant, it said.

Over the past few years, rising costs in health care worldwide have caused an increase in the medical tourism industry with patients flocking to parts of Turkey for cosmetic surgery, according to the Turkey medical tourism outlook for 2017.

The country is the preferred destination for hair transplant procedures for many Arabs. The report also highlighted other emerging segments of Turkey’s medical tourism including dentistry, cosmetic surgery, infertility treatment and eye treatment.

“Patients are travelling to Turkey from all over the world, including the Gulf, seeking cosmetic surgery with a quick recovery,” said Mustafa Ozdemir, cultural and information attaché from the Cultural and Information Office of the Turkish Consulate-General in Dubai.

“In fact, there are even companies that organise trips to Istanbul or south-western Turkey for procedures and treatments. Patients are looking for geographic proximity and the reputation of the country, when choosing Turkey, which is why medical tourism is increasing in the country and we anticipate significant growth in the near future,” he said.

With Turkey treating nearly a quarter of a million foreign patients each year, the country boasts certified doctors in all fields and more Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited hospitals than anywhere outside the US.

According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Turkey ranks ninth in the world for its number of plastic surgeons with 700 registered as practising in the country.

“People want to make the trip part of a tourism experience, so after their procedures they choose to stay in some of the most scenic cities in Turkey to make quick recoveries,” Ozdemir said. “These include Fethiye, Istanbul, Antalya, Marmaris, Bodrum and Kuşadası.” –  TradeArabia News Service

source: http://www.ttnworldwide.com / TTN / Home> Health & Environment / August 31st, 2014