Medical tourism is also called medical travel. It may be defined as the cost effective private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment. It is rapidly growing practice of traveling across international borders to obtain health care.In India, medical treatment is not only fast but also costs a fraction of what it costs in USA or Europe.



The growing need is for high level specialized treatments like transplantation of vital organs, cancer treatment, neuro-surgery, cardiac surgery and many more. Most common treatments are heart surgery, knee transplant, cosmetic surgery and dental care. The countries where medical tourism is being actively promoted include Greece, South Africa, Jordan, India, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. India is a recent entrant into medical tourism.

India is one of the best places for the medical treatment or any other health care in India. Every year thousand of visitors are coming to India from around the world just for the medical check up and other type of surgery related to Bone or liver or others diseases. India is known in particular for heart surgery and other areas of advanced medicine. For long promoted for its cultural and scenic beauty, India is now being put up on international map as a heaven for those seeking quality and affordable healthcare.

Now the question arises why people from developed countries also chose India as a medical tourism? Why India is a favorable destination for medical tourism? Foremost is its infrastructure and technology in which is in par with those in USA, UK and Europe. Secondly India has some of the best hospitals and treatment centers in the world with the best facilities. Foreign patients throng Indian hospitals to pass up the long waiting lists and queues in their native countries. Indian hospitals provide immediate attention to patients rather than asking them to wait for several months like in most western countries. Further, foreign patients need not tackle insurance and national medical systems in India as they have to in their native lands. Finally many foreign patients prefer to combine their leisure and relaxation visits to India with healthcare

Nowadays India is giving Thailand stiff competition in healthcare services for overseas patients because of cheapest treatment as compare to other countries in entire Southeast Asia. Medical tourism is fast emerging as a big opportunity for India with its low cost advantage, high quality healthcare providers and an English speaking populace. The south Indian city of Chennai has been declared India's Health Capital, as it nets in 45% of health tourists from abroad and 30-40% of domestic health tourists.

A number of private hospitals also offer packages designed to attract wealthy foreign patients, with airport-to-hospital bed car service, in-room internet access and private chefs. Another trend is to combine surgery in India with a yoga holiday or trip to the world famous Taj Mahal.