India Becomes Top Attraction for Health Tourists
Increasing numbers of people are deciding to take advantage of the freedom of their health insurance policies and travel abroad to receive their treatment: to destinations such as Hungary, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. India is the latest country to have success in this market with the combination of a very high quality medical service and low cost treatments. An average heart bypass operation would cost around £10,000 in the UK, over three times as much as the same treatment in India. Similarly, a £45,000 heart valve replacement operation in the UK is over 11 times higher than the £4,000 Indian cost.
A Planning Commission report published in India at the end of March claims that over 150,000 people travelled to the country in 2002 alone, bringing in around £151 million for the health industry. Since then, that number has gone up around 25% each year meaning that around £1 billion of earnings is expected by 2012. The report, prepared by member Anwarul Hoda, says: "The hospitals established by private corporate players are world class. They not only have the latest medical technologies, but also the services of Indian doctors and nurses with high degree of proficiency. The hospitals are completely equipped, upmarket and proficient and can measure up or even outshine any hospital in the West."
Some private health insurers, like Freedom Medical Insurance, offer their customers the choice of whether they would like to receive their treatment in a NHS or private hospital as well the option to travel abroad. So with the quality of foreign facilities rivalling health centres here in the UK, it is likely that more health insurance providers will follow suit to give people access to the many advantages of receiving treatment overseas. The Indian Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss told the Times of India, “India boasts of the best private-owned hospitals. When it comes to becoming a doctor, India also has some of the stringest criteria. Language is another plus factor — English is widely spoken and most importantly, there are no waiting lists."
A Planning Commission report published in India at the end of March claims that over 150,000 people travelled to the country in 2002 alone, bringing in around £151 million for the health industry. Since then, that number has gone up around 25% each year meaning that around £1 billion of earnings is expected by 2012. The report, prepared by member Anwarul Hoda, says: "The hospitals established by private corporate players are world class. They not only have the latest medical technologies, but also the services of Indian doctors and nurses with high degree of proficiency. The hospitals are completely equipped, upmarket and proficient and can measure up or even outshine any hospital in the West."
Some private health insurers, like Freedom Medical Insurance, offer their customers the choice of whether they would like to receive their treatment in a NHS or private hospital as well the option to travel abroad. So with the quality of foreign facilities rivalling health centres here in the UK, it is likely that more health insurance providers will follow suit to give people access to the many advantages of receiving treatment overseas. The Indian Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss told the Times of India, “India boasts of the best private-owned hospitals. When it comes to becoming a doctor, India also has some of the stringest criteria. Language is another plus factor — English is widely spoken and most importantly, there are no waiting lists."
Posted by Health Insurance News at
10:51
