| Medical Tourism
to India has grown over the years, as people all over
the world gain greater awareness of the world-class standards
of health care available in India, at very reasonable
prices. Complex procedures, such as cardiac surgery and
cosmetic surgery, cost much less than similar procedures
in hospitals in the US, UK and the Middle East. Faced
by expensive bills and long waiting lists, patients worldwide
have begun to look towards India as a medical treatment
destination.
While alternative treatment like Ayurveda therapy has
attracted patients for some while now, conventional medical
treatment, ranging from medical checkups to complex surgical
procedures in leading hospitals in India, has attracted
many medical tourists in recent times.
Since Medical Tourism in India is a recent phenomenon,
certain aspects concerning insurance and legal aspects
of treatment need to be kept in mind.
If you'd like to travel to India for medical treatment,
and need to verify if your insurance provider will cover
your bills, just send us a query at the e-mail address
given below. We will verify whether direct insurance cover,
or a third party insurance cover, can be provided in your
case.
Medical tourists can also check with their insurance
provider whether treatment at an internationally recognized
hospital in India is covered by their policy. If not,
the patient will have to bear the expense of their treatment.
The cost of treatment will however be much less than the
equivalent treatment in a hospital in the West.
Legal Issues: A prospective medical tourist should also
be aware of possible legal issues. There is presently
no international legal regulation of medical tourism.
All medical procedures have an element of risk. The issue
of legal recourse for unsatisfactory treatment across
international boundaries is a legally undefined issue
at present.
Medical Visa: The Indian Government has started issuing
a Medical Visa for tourists who come to India for medical
treatment. This visa is valid for a year or the period
of treatment, whichever is less, and can be extended by
another year. The medical visa enables a tourist to travel
to India up to three times in one year. Two family members
or attendants can also accompany a patient on a medical
visa. Based on the Indian Embassy's assessment of the
patients needs, family members or attendants can be granted
a visa, in association with the patient's medical visa.
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