In a bid to curb medical tourism by US citizens, US President Barack Obama pushed for an affordable health care programme arguing that he would not like his countrymen to travel to countries like India and Mexico for cheaper treatment. Spiraling health care cost is a cause for concern in America, he said.
India ranks second in medical tourism. In 2007, Indian hospitals treated 4.5 lakh patients from other countries against topper Thailand's 12 lakh. In India, medical tourism is valued at more than $310 million. Currently, India receives more than 100,000 foreign patients a year. The Confederation of Indian Industry expects the sector to grow to $2 billion by 2012.
What is medical tourism?
Medical Tourism India and Medical Tourism is a developing concept whereby people from world over visit India for their medical and relaxation needs. Most common treatments are heart surgery, knee transplant, cosmetic surgery and dental care.
Why is India a preferred destination?
India is a favourable destination because despite its world class infrastructure and technology which is on a par with those in USA, UK and Europe, it is affordable. A heart care surgery which costs around $30,000 in USA can cost as low as $8,000 in India.
What is wrong with America's healthcare?
- Some 47 million US residents have no health insurance, and the numbers keep growing.
- The rising costs of prescription drugs have been devastating on Medicaid and Medicare programs, leading many doctors to stop accepting patients with such coverage.
- Only 30 percent of Americans report that they can access a doctor on the very day they need one. Americans - more than in any other country - say it's difficult to get care on nights, weekends, or holidays. They have to resort to the emergency room, where care is costlier and, if your injury is not grievous, less efficient.
- Today's employer-based insurance system restricts individuals' choice of insurance, and many people are locked into jobs for fear of losing coverage.
Why is healthcare so expensive in the US?
- Insurance companies are businesses. Their business mission is to make money, not to make people healthy.
- Doctors in the US are required to pay medical malpractice insurance that usually cost over $100,000 annually. Foreign doctors are required to pay medical malpractice insurance as well, but their costs are as low as $4000 annually.
- The problem is that Americans like to believe that, with most things, more is better
Quality of treatment in India
Obama's condescending look at India's "cheap treatment" when compared to America's "high quality treatment", is quite disheartening. He said "My preference would be that you don't have to travel to Mexico or India to get cheap health care. I'd like you to be able to get it right here in the United States of America that's high quality."
Maybe a decade ago, India was about 50 years behind the US in medical field but the gap has bridged much faster during the last 10 to 15 years, with more and more of high tech super speciality hospitals coming up.
Indian doctors are well recognised all over the world and on the technology front we are coming almost at par with the west especially in the new high tech hospitals.
Little wonder then, patients from across the globe prefer to come and get treated in India. Whether Mr Obama likes it or not, looks like medical tourism into India will continue. Source:
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