| Medical Tourism can be defined as the | | | | |
| provision for patients to travel offshore in | | | | One major reason that medical tourism is |
| search of faster, cost-effective and safer | | | | attractive to many people is that it offers |
| medical and surgical procedures. A | | | | medical treatments at a comparatively low |
| combination of various different factors have | | | | cost. Moreover the public healthcare systems |
| led many people from industrialized countries | | | | in developed countries are very much |
| to migrate in order to get high quality | | | | overburdened and traveling to foreign land |
| medical treatment. The various reasons are | | | | for immediate treatment is often a solution |
| the cost issues, ease and affordability of | | | | to the problem. Medical tourism is popular |
| international travel, long frustrating queues | | | | and generally accepted because it provides |
| in many nations and above all improving | | | | the patients with medical assistance |
| technology standards of health care in many | | | | accompanied by five-star treatment and |
| countries of the world. Both the health | | | | exclusive vacations. Thailand and India are |
| sector and the tourism industry help to | | | | among the emerging popular spots for medical |
| facilitate the process in these countries. | | | | tourism. The Government of India has |
| | | | successfully exerted its leadership to assist |
| The concept of medical tourism actually | | | | in the development of the medical tourism |
| traces back to ancient Greece, where pilgrims | | | | industry in the country. |
| and patients from all over the Mediterranean | | | | |
| came to the sanctuary of healing god, | | | | India is one of the leading players in the |
| Asklepios, at Epidaurus. In the 18th century | | | | medical tourism industry today. Cosmetic |
| the wealthy Europeans from Germany traveled | | | | surgery and dental treatments is usually what |
| to the Mediterranean spas. The 21st century | | | | the medical tourists have been looking for, |
| has taken the medical tourism industry beyond | | | | but recent studies reveal even eye surgery, |
| the wealthy and the desperate providing low | | | | kidney dialysis and organ transplantation are |
| cost treatment and transportation services. | | | | among the most common procedures sought by |
| The leisure, fun and relaxation together with | | | | medical vacationers. In particular, India |
| health care attached to it have made medical | | | | excels in open-heart surgery, pediatric heart |
| tourism a common form of vacation. | | | | surgery, bone marrow transplants and cancer |
| | | | therapy. Indian hospitals are equipped with |
| Medical tourism presents an opportunity for | | | | the latest electronic and medical diagnostic |
| hospitals to tap the potential of the | | | | equipment. Indian pharmaceuticals meet the |
| international healthcare market and | | | | stringent requirements of U.S. Food and Drug |
| eventually leverage their business. The | | | | Administration and even qualify for the |
| advancement of medical technology, increased | | | | American standards for quality of care. |
| transportation facilities and necessity of | | | | |
| immediate quality healthcare has encouraged | | | | The medical tourism in India has become one |
| the healthcare providers to go global. | | | | of the booming business sectors. Marketing |
| Medical tourists travel great distances to | | | | ones facilities with informative websites |
| seek world-class doctors and hospitals. The | | | | outlining the transparent pricing schemes and |
| healthcare providers worldwide are investing | | | | availability of latest medical accoutrements |
| to acquire the cutting edge technology and | | | | are the trend of the day. As more and more |
| venture into the areas of latest medical | | | | patients from affluent nations look for |
| research. They even provide lucrative | | | | effective options in India, the medical |
| non-medical services such as hospitality | | | | tourism industry has been expanding at a fast |
| services, spa facilities, and pick-up | | | | pace. Developments will of course lead to |
| services to facilitate the stay and treatment | | | | various other economic activities where the |
| of their international clientele. | | | | main element will always remain quality. |