My idea on health tourism

1. Health tourism
Kasi Vishwanath from Incigol
Software Solutions Pvt Ltd
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2. Scopeof Presentation
Overview.
Definition.
Countries involved in Health Tourism.
Popular procedures which are sought by
patients under health tourism.
India as attractive Destination for health
tourism.
Initiatives taken by Government of India to
promote health tourism.
Important Indian states in health tourism.
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3. • Health tourism from patients perspective
• Benefits to health tourists.
• Benefits to host country.
• Risks to host country.
• International Instability – Political and
Economic
• Differing policies of Countries
• Medical insurance.
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4. Overview
 Health tourism (also called medical travel,medical tourism
or global healthcare) is a term initially coined by travel
agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-
growing practice of travelling across international borders
to obtain health care.
 Health tourism is rapidly growing sector and multi billion
dollar industry.
 People travelling to far off places for treatment and health
improvement is not new but is known since ancient time.
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5. Overview
 In ancient Greece pilgrims and patients use to travel to
sanctuary of the healing God, Asklepios, at Epidaurus.
 In 18th century wealthy European travelled Spas from
Germany to Nile.
 Later wealthy people began travel travelling to tourist
destination like Swiss lakes, Alps and special tuberculosis
sanatoriums, where professional and specialized medical
facility was offered.
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6. Overview
• But now due to relatively low cost of Jet travelling and
emergence of countries providing advanced health facilities
at cost effective rate has taken health tourism beyond the
wealthy .
• The ultimate aim of health tourism is tour to surrounding
destinations, medical treatment and savings.
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7. Definition
• Health tourism may be defined as the
provision of cost effective medical care with
due consideration to quality in collaboration
with tourism industry for foreign patients who
need specialized treatment and surgery.
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8. Countriespromotinghealthtourism
• Leading countries in Health tourism are :
Thailand
India
Singapore
Malaysia
Poland
France
Brazil
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9. Popularprocedureswhicharesoughtbypatientsunder
healthtourism.
 Complicated surgeries and dental procedures, kidney
dialysis, organ transplantation and sex change surgeries
topped the list of the most popular procedures.
 Treatment for infertility especially in vitro fertilization
(IVF) is also sought.
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10. India as attractiveDestinationfor health
tourism.
 McKinsey study on health care says health tourism alone
can bring additional revenue of Rs.5000-10,000 crore for
up market tertiary hospitals by2012.
 In 2004, 1,80,000 foreign patients visited India for medical
treatment.
 The number of health tourist visiting India a decade ago
was merely 10,000.
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11. Indiaas attractiveDestinationforhealthtourism.
• There are a large number of international
visitors, including non-resident Indians, who
come for other purposes, but use wellness
systems, such as Ayurveda / Yoga or Spiritual
Healing.
• Even if we assume that only 5% of foreign
travellers undertake such wellness systems in
India, the estimated number of travellers
under this category would be 200,000.
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12. Indiaas attractiveDestinationforhealthtourism.
• The International Passenger Survey – 2003 has
estimated that about 2 million non-resident
Indians visiting India every year, of which about
10% come with healthcare objective. This works
out to about 200,000 NRI patients visiting India to
undergo various treatments. All these put
together, the visitors to India with healthcare
objective could be estimated at around300,000
patients
• Thus, it may be quantified that the healthcare
visitors to India would easily be in the range of
around 500,000.
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13. ImportantIndianstatusinhealthtourism
• Kerala has pioneer health tourism in India.
• Kerala has strongly focused on Ayurveda and
its wide array of treatments and medications,
good facilities are also available in other
traditional forms of medicine as well as in
modern medical treatment.
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14. Kerala is Capitalizing on its Rich
Cultural Heritage and alternate
Medical Therapies.
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15. Advantageous features Indian health tourism
1. Low cost advantage:
India offers quality treatment at fifth of
the cost abroad. The slogan thus is
“First world treatment at the Third
World Price”.
2. Strong reputation in field of advanced
health care facility .
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16. Karnataka’s Foray
• The government of Karnataka has ambitious
plans to make Karnataka the top health
tourism destination not only in India but
internationally.
• The State government is setting up a
Bangalore International Health City
Corporation for provision of a wide variety
health care products and treatments.
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17. TamilNadu
• Tamil Nadu has multi speciality hospitals that
offer the best medical treatment at
surprisingly low rates.
• In the state various other forms of medicine,
viz, Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Nature Therapy
and Yoga are also practiced, which the
foreigners are inclined to patronize.
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18. Maharashtra'sUnlimitedPotential
This state, as a gateway to India, offers
tremendous potential to develop medical
tourism.
• The latest addition in Mumbai is the Asian Heart
Institute at Bandra Kurla complex.
• This institute in collaborating with the Cleveland
Institute, U.S.A offers ‘Five Star’ services at
reasonable prices.
• This institute offers state-of-the art facilities for
all types of heart complications and even
preventive cardiological treatment to avoid heart
alignments and keep under control a host of heart
problems.
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19. Delhi
• Escorts hospital group in Delhi
completed 4200 heart operations for
foreign patients during 2004
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20. Otherstates
• In other states of India also, a number of
private hospitals offer packages designed to
attract wealthy patients, with airport-to-
hospital bed car service, in-room Internet
access and private chefs.
• Another trend is to combine surgery in India
with Yoga are holiday trip to the world famous
Taj Mahal, Ellora, etc.
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21. Table1:ComparativecostofSomemedical
proceduresinselectedcountries
Procedure USA India Thailand Singapore Malaysia
Coronary
artery
disease
$130,000 $10,000 $11000 $18500 $9000
Hip
replacement
$43000 $9000 $12000 $12000 $10000
Hysterectom
y
$20000 $3000 $4500 $6000 $3000
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22. 3. Quality and range of services available.
India has number of Hospitals offering World
class treatment in nearly every sector Such as
cardio-vascular surgery, organ transplants,
and eye surgery, Rheumatology, Neurology,
oncology, Neurosurgery, Endocrinology etc.
4. Foreigners are to attracted Indian system of
medicine and tourism.
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23. 5. Availability of diverse tourist
destination in the country.
6. Top class luxury resorts .
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24. Shortcomings of Indian health tourism:
1. Low coordination between the various players in the
industry- airline operators, hotels and hospitals.
2. No strong government support to promote health tourism.
3. Lack of uniform pricing policies across the hospitals.
4. Cheating.
5. Political problems.
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25. Opportunities in health tourism :
1. In creased demand of health care services from countries
with aging population e.g. USA,UK etc.
2. Fast-paced lifestyle increases demand on wellness
tourism and alternative cures.
3. Shortage of supply in countries like UK, Canada.
4. Demand for retirement homes for elderly people
especially in Japan.
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26. 6. Personal touch by doctors in India.
7. Medicine and labor cost is low as compared to developed
countries.
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27. • Threats to Indian Health tourism:
1. Strong competition from countries like
Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
2. Lack of International accreditation – a major
inhibitor
3. Overseas medical procedure not covered by
insurance providers.
4. Under-investment in health infrastructure.
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28. 5. Exorcism is more in India, foreigners may be attacked.
6. Identifying a real practitioner is a measure problem in
India.
7.Exploitation of tourist by illegal money changers
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29. InitiativestakenbyGovernmentof Indiato
promotehealthtourism.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has
set up a National Accreditation Board for
Hospitals(NABH), under the Quality Council of
India for accreditation of hospitals.
• Measures for rationalising tourist flow:
-Fast track clearance for the medical patient at
airport.
-Ministry of Home affairs has introduced
Medical Visa for foreign tourist coming to
India for medical purpose.
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30. Outline of NABH Standards
• Access, Assessment and Continuity of Care
• Patient Rights and Education
• Care of Patient
• Management of Medication
• Hospital Infection Control
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31. Outlineof NABHStandards
• Continuous Quality Improvement
• Responsibility of Management
• Facility Management and Safety
• Human Resources Management
• Information Management System
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32. Joint Commission Interational
• List of JCI Accredited Hospitals in India
1 Indraprasta Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
2 Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai
3. Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
4 Shroff Eye Hospital, Mumbai
5 Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad
6 Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai 3,
7 Satguru Pratap Singh Apollo Hospital, 8 Fortis
Hospital, Mohali June 15, 2007
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34. Indian HealthcareFederation
• Indian Healthcare Federation (IHCF) is an
independent non-statutory body, with a
membership of around 300 members.
• IHCF comprising non-government hospitals,
diagnostic centres, medical equipment
manufacturers and pharmaceutical firms.
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35. Indian HealthcareFederation
• The main objective of IHCF is to promote and encourage
healthcare industry in the country. IHCF seeks to function
as a liaisoning medium between Government, health
providers, medical equipment manufacturers and other
medical institutions. IHCF also provides a common
platform for its members to discuss and arrive at solutions
for various issues related to healthcare industry and ensure
organized action wherever necessary.
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36. Indian Healthcare Federation
• IHCF endeavours for a disease free India by
providing accessible quality healthcare every
single citizen at affordable cost and transform
India into a healthy and vivacious nation.
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37. Healthtourismfrompatientsperspective.
Medical tourists are usually the people who are:
• The Uninsured.
• Requiring cosmetic and lifestyle procedures.
• Wealthy people living in less developed
nations.
•Middle income people living in richer nations.
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38. Healthtourism from patientsperspective.
• Medical tourists can be into three somewhat overlapping
groups:
(i) the uninsured and those with high- deductible plans;
(ii) employees of self-funded employers
(iii) the fully insured
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39. Healthtourism from patientsperspective.
Benefits to Health tourist:
• Advanced medical facility available at fraction of cost as
compared to developed countries.
• No waiting or long list for special procedures.
• Privacy/anonymity
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40. Risks for the Individual
•Complications/cost of follow up
•Medico-legal
•Clinical notes
•Counterfeit drugs
•Insurance coverage
•Lack of social support
•Travel complications
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41. Benefits for the host nation:
•Capital development of healthcare
infrastructure
•Better facilities for the home population
• Development of clinical standards and
governance
•Better health and healthcare for the home
population
•Government revenues
•Economic development
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42. Benefits for the host nation – government
revenues
•Taxation
•Service provider arrangements
•Visa fees
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43. Risks for the host nation
•Unrealised potential
•Suboptimal capital arrangements
•Suboptimal revenue arrangements
•Reputation
•Public health risks
•Social costs
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44. InternationalInstability– Politicaland
Economic
• Geopolitical events can quickly impact patient
flows.
• Everything from currency fluctuations, to
terrorist attacks, to healthcare policy changes, to
unemployment rates can impact the number of
medical tourists and the destinations to which
they will or will not travel.
• One can logically anticipate that the H1N1 flu
outbreak of 2009 will be shown to have a
depressing impact upon outbound medical
tourism to Mexico
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45. WHO comparative indicators
Australia India Mauritius Singapore South Africa Thailand United Arab
Emirates
United States
of America
116
14
32
59
46
19
52
125
Total number of health workers per 10000 population
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46. Differing policies of Countries
• South Korean policy of limiting the number of beds for
foreign patients to less than 5% of the total bed capacity, so
as to ensure that Korean citizens are not deprived of
advanced health facility.
• Conversely, the Singapore government has recently
undertaken extensive efforts to enhance its continued
growth as a medical tourism destination.
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47. Medical Insurance
• According to Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority (IRDA), health
Insurance is one of the fastest growing
portfolios of general insurance business.
• Penetration of health insurance in India is low;
health insurance is estimated at around 10%
of total population.
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48. Medical Insurance
• Majority of the health insured in India are
covered under social health insurance or
community-based health insurance, and the
penetration of commercial insurance may be
around 1% only.
• Third Party Administrators (TPAs) are
facilitating the healthcare insurance
penetration.
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49. Medical Insurance
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50. Medical Insurance
• TPAs are enhancing their role to provider
networks to service other needs of the
insured. With such enhanced role, the insured
are getting a feel of ‘managed care’, relieving
the patients from the psychological stress of
filling various forms and mobilizing resources
at short notice.
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51. References
1. Swot Analysis On: Medical Tourism Kalyan
Chakravarthy K, C H. Ravi Kumar and Deepthi
K Conference on Tourism in India –
Challenges Ahead, 15-17 May 2008, IIMK
2. Healthcare Tourism In India 1 Report of the
National Commission on Macroeconomics
and Health, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, Government of India, August 2005
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52. References
3. What is health and medical tourism? by Peta
S. Cook Humanities Research Program
Queensland University of Technology
4. Medical tourism: Implications for providers
and plans Mark S. Kopson Medical Tourism:
Consumers in Search of Value,” Deloitte
Center for Health Solutions (April 14, 2009)
5. Joint Commission International - reviews
both American and international medical and
dental facilities, using United States
standards.
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53. References
6. MA Guidelines on Medical Tourism (June
2008)
7. Indian Healthcare Federation;
www.indianhealthcarefederation.org;
8. International Passenger survey -2003;
Incredible India, Ministry of tourism,
February 2006.
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54. Thank You
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