Bengaluru: The majority of great medical tourists – 54.3% – who visited India last year from Bangladesh, followed by 9% of Iraq, 8% of Afghanistan, 6% of Maldives and 4.5% of a group of African countries, data released by Ministry of Tourism Union.
Most of these patients come to India who are looking for complex heart surgery and cancer treatment, said Dr.
Devi Shetty, a member of the national medical and fitness tourism promotion board.
Since hit pandemic, visitors have been a little and far between and Dr.
Shetty said it would take months for this sector to return to its path.
“India is a cheap health and hospital destination here which is famous for quality care,” said Dr.
Shetty.
The Government of India’s decision to expand E-medical visas to 166 countries has helped patients in need of abroad to reach Indian hospitals.
Dr.
Shetty said that in addition to the advantages in medical care, the interesting Bangladesh to India is similarity in food, language, affordable care, and cultural comfort.
Data from the unification of the tourism ministry showed Bangladesh contributed 23.6% medical tourists in 2009, while Maldives had the highest section at 57.5%.
While the Bangladesh section increased, that Maldives fell.
In 2019, Bangladesh was made for 57.5% medical tourists and 7.3% Maldives.
The Afghan share consisting of 10.7% of international patients in 2009 in India increased to touch 14.3% in 2016 before slumping to 4.7% in 2019.
Stakeholders said direct flight connectivity most determined destinations.
Dr.
Manish Mattoo, Vice President, Fortis Healthcare, said, “While Delhi and Mumbai got most patients from West Asia and Bangladesh, Chennai attracted people from Maldives, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
Most of the medical tourists to Bengaluru come from countries African, Bangladesh and West Asia.
“Dr Mattoo said in terms of costs, foreign patients pay a 20% premium compared to Indian patients.
It comes with ecosystems formed to care for them.
“Foreign patients get full support from hospitals since their arrival at the airport to the inn, care, and even the cuisine of their choice, besides translators to help them,” Dr Mattoo said.
Earlier this month, a 27-year-old woman from Kabul underwent intestinal transplants at Bengaluru Fortis Hospital.
Patients suffer from short intestinal syndrome and blooded blood clotting conditions.
He fully depends on the provision of intravenous nutrition.
Last year, the woman developed severe abdominal pain and complications in its small intestine because the doctor in Afghanistan took off the small intestine.
The family was destroyed when the doctor told them that he had a minimum survival opportunity, so they came to India who were seeking help.
The type of care sought by foreign patients has changed over time.
Dr Mattoo said in 2016-17, there was a large inflow of patients from Iraq and Yemen, most men were injured in the war.
At the end of 2018, cases such as the highlands.
In 2019, most patients seek liver transplants and brain surgery.
In February this year, a special rental aircraft flew in 21 patients from Myanmar to Apollo Hospitals, Delhi.
“Most of them are looking for kidney transplants and liver,” said Dr.
Harinder Sidhu, vice president, Apollo Hospital.
“They are accompanied by donors and caregivers.
Medical tourism has not fully stopped even during a pandemic.” Dr.
Sidhu revealed that some Bangladesh traveled by bus to Kolkata on October 2020 and then taken to Chennai for treatment.
Post-covid, many hospitals serving foreign patients through dedicated international tables have got questions, but travel restrictions are stumbling blocks.
Dr.
Devi Shetty said it would take at least 3-6 months for medical tourism to reach its steps.
“For flights to continue, for the embassy to issue a medical visa, it will take time.
At present the visa is issued only in an emergency.
For medical tourism to continue, the situation of the pandemic in these countries and in India is important,” he said.