News and views about Medical Tourism in India

Weekly news updates on health travel in India

The Indian medical tourism industry is expected to be Rs 100 billion by 2012, and may rival India’s software sector. Organizations and departments of health in the US and UK are warning patients against this trend. Insurance companies are looking for a tie up with Indian hospitals.

Chillibreeze Business Research Team

Avoid India, UK tells patients

Medical organizations in US and UK have warned patients against the growing trend of health tourism.

According to the British Medical Association, patients need to check on their fitness for long distance flying to countries for treatment and factor in appropriate recuperation time before flying home.

The US Department of Health raised concerns that seeking treatment abroad can add to destination related health risks like malaria.

More than two lakh foreigners visited India for treatment last year. The Indian Healthcare Federation (IHF) has reacted saying that patients are coming here because they are not being given appropriate healthcare in their own countries.

Aug 3, 2007
Source: Hindustan Times

Global healthcare in crisis: Trehan

The Indian Healthcare Federation (IHF) President Dr Naresh Trehan has said that “Global healthcare is in crisis — there are over 50 million patients not provided for in the US and the National Health waiting lists are so long that it poses a risk to patients.”

Wockhardt Hospital is in negotiations with several US insurance companies to expand operations.

Aug 3, 2007
Source: Hindustan Times

Manipal forays into healthcare retail

The Bangalore-based Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) announced its foray into healthcare retail with the launch of first of its planned 50 `Health and Wellness' centres under the brand name Manipal Cure and Care (MCC).

The group plans to set up about 10 such centres at a total investment of Rs 55 crores, this fiscal. The centres will provide both retail and healthcare services supported by well-trained doctors and paramedical staff.

Aug 3, 2007
Source: PTI via Economic Times

Fortis Launches Multi-speciality Hospital in Jaipur

Fortis Healthcare Ltd, one of the largest private healthcare companies in India, has opened a multi-specialty hospital at Jaipur. The Fortis Escorts Hospital Jaipur (FEHJ) is a 165-bed facility with focus on cardiac sciences, neurosciences, renal sciences and gastrointestinal diseases.

Fortis Healthcare is a Ranbaxy promoter group company. Fortis acquired Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Ltd in September 2005. It has operations in Delhi, Noida, Mohali (Chandigarh), Amritsar, Faridabad, Raipur and Srinagar. Fortis Healthcare currently has a network of 11 hospitals, primarily in north India.

Aug 2, 2007
IANS via Medindia.net

31 Aug: Annual Health IT Executive Summit

Frost & Sullivan is organizing the 2nd Annual Health IT Executive Summit at The Leela, Goa from 31 August to 2 September 2007.

The 3 day summit is focused on 'IT Advancements in Healthcare Delivery'.

Frost & Sullivan expects the growth of IT in Healthcare sector to record a CAGR of 18 per cent (2006-2010).

Aug 1, 2007
Source: Business wire India