MEDICAL VALUE TRAVEL: AN AMALGAM FOR ANALYSIS

January-2008
eHealth

The new phenomenon, the new industry we are talking about is Medical Value Travel or Medical Tourism, as it has popularly come to be known now. Until some time ago we were concerned about 'brain-drain'. The best of doctors would leave for best of facilities and offers outside of India. We are also just beginning to grapple with the shortage of nurses here, for the same reason.

As a country which is infamous for Delhi belly, we are still coming to terms with the fact that people from developed countries would purposefully come to India to get treated. How odd it must be, to get vaccine shots before breathing in the Indian air, where one is going to get medical treatment. eHEALTH team asked the industry players themselves, what has caused this dramatic turn-around. Following are some interesting facts that were thrown up. The participants of this interesting questionnaire are some of the most successful service providers such as Ms. Saroja Mohanasundaram, CEO Healthbase, U.S.A.

What is the quantum of International patients served by you in a year? Where do your clients mostly come from?

MS. SAROJA M, CEO HEALTHBASE: We are helping several hundred people from U.S.A., Canada, U.K. and other countries, to receive high quality, low cost medical treatment abroad.

Col. Masand, CEO Jaslok Hospital:  Out of all visitors, Domestic patients would be 80% and International patients 20%. Most of our patients come from Middle East and African Countries. Rest of them come from Europe, U.S.A. and Canada.

What are the service levels or certifications that you think hospitals in India require for servicing globally?

Ms. Saroja M, CEO Healthbase : For our American customers, JCI (Joint Commission International, USA) accreditation is a big draw. But, there are some very good hospitals which are not JCI accredited. Besides accreditation, the more transparent the hospitals are in terms of quality outcome data, success rates, doctor credentials, etc., the better they can serve the international market.

Col. Masand, CEO Jaslok Hospital: Jaslok has applied for NABH accreditation and we are waiting for the inspection team to arrive.

What kind of strategies do you adopt in order to advise patients on Hospitals which may provide expected high levels of service?

Ms. Saroja M, CEO Healthbase: Before bringing an international health care provider on-board, we look at their accreditations and collect various facts about their facility. We empower our patients with a wealth of information related to medical tourism such as details of international health care facilities , doctors , procedures , logistics, and so on, so that they can make a well-educated decision on which provider will best satisfy their needs. Additionally, we also collect feedback from our customers about the hospitals when they return after their surgery.

MS. B. MAKHARIA, CEO YOGASHRAMRISHIKESH.COM: Since we are a doctor based service provider we give our clients the advice on hospitals as per their requirements proposed by our doctors.

What kind of collaborations do you expect from Insurance firms?

Ms. Saroja M, CEO Healthbase: Before insurance firms start offering the option of overseas treatment to clients as one of their plans, there are a few major issues in this industry that need to be sorted out like, liability, follow-up care, and so on.

On the question of provisions for any legal issues that may crop up, between the patient and foreign hospital, Ms. Saroja M., CEO Healthbase, USA, replied that they have not had any bad experiences so far. She clarified, "Currently, the patients need to work with the hospital and court system in the country where they obtain their services. She further advised that the issues can be mitigated by doing thorough research about the destination, health care facility, doctors, etc. before actually going there." Ms. Saroja said, "Healthbase works only with high quality hospitals and empowers customers with every detail they need regarding their treatment so as to minimise the chances of  complications from occurring."

Medical value travel, more popularly termed 'Medical Tourism', was discussed at length, as the next big window of opportunity at a recent conference organized by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in association with Indian Healthcare Federation(IHCF) in New Delhi. It saw the release of a new brand 'Experience Indian Healthcare,' geared toward facilitating India's competition in the global healthcare market.

Smt. Ambika Soni Minister of Tourism and Shri. Anbumani Ramadoss Minister of Health & Family Welfare expressed their support to the initiative at the conference. Healthcare Revolution might just have begun!

More at eHealthOnline.org..