Medical tourists prefer Thailand

Medical tourism has emerged as an important segment of the tourism industry in India. High accommodation costs and visa norms are major constraints facing growth of India’s medical tourism industry. Despite the boom, several corporate hospitals are yet to break even. Spa tourism and homeopathy are promising, niche segments.

- Chillibreeze Business Research Team

Outsourcing surgery can mean vacation, too

A North Portland resident with no medical insurance decided to have orthopedic surgery in India, using services of a UK based medical tourism company.

The patient was in hospital for 13 days and managed a visit to the Taj Mahal, post surgery.

More insurance companies are tying up with hospitals abroad. Several hospitals in Asian cities are building facilities with the latest high-tech equipment specifically to service medical tourists.
November 30, 2007
Source: Portland Tribune

Breathing Easy - Indian Medical Tourism Gaining Health

RNCOS, a market research consulting services company, has recently published a report titled “Indian Tourism Industry Forecast (2007-2011).

The report considers the Indian medical tourism industry an important part of the Indian tourism industry. The number of medical tourists has grown from 10,000 patients in 2000 to a stupendous 180,000 by 2005.

According to the report, India is one of the most preferred destinations for medical tourism combined with attractive vacation packages. The growth in medical tourism is attributed to the declining financial state of national health services in several western countries and the need to treat the uninsured patients.
November 29, 2007
Source: PR.com

Govt norms hurting medical tourism

There is a view that tough immigration norms are dampening the industry.

Apollo Hospitals and Chennai-based MIOT Hospitals Ltd say their resources are being diverted to deal with paperwork for foreign patients undergoing treatment in their hospitals, including processing of medical visas, registration of such tourists and longer screening processes for certain nationalities.

The stringent requirement of physical presence at the visa issuing office is problematic for sick patients or those in post operative conditions.

Unlike India, Thailand processes medical visas within three hours of applying in that country, whereas the same process takes 10 days for those travelling to India, according to Apollo Hospitals.
November 29, 2007
Source: Livemint

Medical tourism gets shot in arm

The government has announced $6.5 billion investment for medical tourism industry.

Industry leaders feel that the tie-up with the ‘Incredible India’ campaign and start of medical visas will go a long way in promoting India as the best healthcare destination.

The medical tourism industry faces infrastructural as well as legal constraints. The government is working on a single window clearance system to facilitate foreign investment in medical tourism industry.
November 25, 2007
Source: Economic Times

Homeopathy market to Touch Rs 52,000 crore by 2017

According to WHO, homeopathy is the second largest system of medicine in the world and is experiencing an annual growth of around 20-25 per cent.

It is estimated that by 2017, the world homeopathy market would be equivalent to the current alternative healthcare market, which is Rs 52,000 crore.

Some highlights of an AC Nielsen survey of 650 people across seven Indian cities:

• 51 per cent of the people suffering from chronic ailments try home remedies, 30 per cent prefer to leave it unattended, 19 per cent of the people resort to medical intervention.
• People opt for conventional medicine because it enjoys top-of-mind recall (59 per cent) and has immediate results (56 per cent), they choose homeopathy because it is safe (53 per cent) or is recommended by friends and relatives (50 per cent).
• 62 per cent of the current homeopathy users have never tried allopathy,
• 82 per cent of homoeopathy users would not switch to conventional treatments.

November 2007
Source: Express healthcare

Lavasa & Apollo to Develop Health Centre at Pune

Lavasa Corporation Ltd has recently signed an agreement with the Apollo Hospitals Group, to set up an integrated healthcare and wellness destination at the Lavasa Hill town near Pune.

The plan is to establish a multi-speciality hospital with a capacity of 50 beds which will be ready by 2009. Eventually, the services shall extend to wellness services, rejuvenation, long-term care, research and development.
November 2007
Source: Express healthcare

India's corporate healthcare segment has a ‘healthy’ future

The Indian healthcare sector is drawing in many foreign entities. Wockhardt, Columbia Asia and Havells India are examples.

Corporate hospitals in big cities serve population residing in Tier II and II cities. This can be called as domestic medical tourism. Many such hospitals have a referral system in place from hospitals in smaller cities and towns.
November 22, 2007
Source: Newindpress.com

India's shortage of low-budget hotels puts shackles on medical tourism

India's bid to attract overseas patients by offering world-class medical facilities at lower prices is being hindered by a lack of quality low-cost hotels and high rates of accommodation for post-treatment stay
November 21, 2007
Source: Bloomberg

Spa Tourism fast losing the 'ancillary industry' tag

Kerala, Uttarakhand and Goa have become 'spa destinations’ in India.

Hotel chains are re branding their spas. The Taj Group of Hotels has spa brand 'Jiva', The Oberoi, has tied-up with Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts to manage its Indian spa properties, The Leela manages four spas in India and Hyatt has six under the brand Hyatt Pure Spa. Other well-known spa brands are Aura (Park View Hotels) and Rejuve (Bharat Hotels).:

The Ananda Spa Resort in the Himalayas by offers over 79 treatments, integrating Ayurveda offerings with internationally popular treatments such as hydrotherapy.

Spa and wellness treatments onboard luxury trains are fast becoming an important source of revenue.

There is need for certain guidelines and certification for spa outlets.
November 19, 2007
Source: Travel Biz Monitor

Healthcare does not promise good returns

A quarter-to-quarter comparison of net profits of public listed healthcare entities shows an overall decline in the profits of these hospitals during the quarter ended September 30.

The Indian healthcare sector is growing at 12 per cent per annum. On the consumer side, people can afford corporate healthcare and a lot of companies are providing insurance cover for their employees. The increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases is also bringing in more business for the healthcare service providers. Despite all this, almost all players in the corporate hospital segment are making losses. This is primarily because hospitals are in a growth phase and operational efficiencies in healthcare can come only with huge capacities.
November 16, 2007
Source: Business standard