Development of Medical Tourism in India: Chennai as a Case Study

   India is known for its cultural heritage, which plays a pivotal role in the development of Tourism Industry in India. The tourism industry fetches a significant foreign exchange to India. Of late, India has developed other resources to tap revenue for the tourism industry.

          Medical Tourism is one of the flourishing industries that has been developing in Metropolis like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkatta. Of them Chennai plays a leading role. Medical tourism is developing on its own without any government support but largely depending upon the private sector. Medical Tourism can be defined as the industry that revolves around the private speciality hospitals and the incoming patients who come to India from our neighbouring countries like Srilanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan and other Asian and African countries, to get medical treatment for their ailments. The revenue generated by such incoming foreigners through the amount they spend for their medical treatment, for their stay in India and other connected expenses form the main sources of income for medical tourism.

          We can take Chennai for our case study of Medical Tourism. One Afrina Ali from Malaysia has come down to Chennai for medical treatment, to undergo extensive fertility medication. She has chosen India, especially Chennai for her treatment, since the cost of the medical treatment comparing with Western countries is far less, but the standard of the medical treatment is on par with the hospitals abroad especially the western countries. Afrina Ali who has to stay in India for a period of three months to get medical treatment in India, need not spend thousands of rupees for her stay and food. At Balambal’s flat situated in Mylapore, she will be staying as a paying guest for a nominal rent of Rs 5,000/- and for food she may cook on her own or arrange for food from somewhere else. Besides, commutation  for hire,  recreation and entertainment fecilities are also available nearby. So, Chennai, of late, has become the hub of medical tourism, where thousands patients from all over the world come to get medical treatment in the multi-speciality hospitals situated in Chennai. Hence, the land-lords in Chennai has begun to rent out their premises to the foreigners who come to Chennai for medical treatment.

          In Apollo Hospital, Chennai, where patients come from over 45 foreign countries, for a prolonged treatment say over three months, the hospital is arranging through its own representative, to find accommodation for them ranging from Rs 500/- to Rs 5,000/-, nearby their hospitals. Factors like qualified doctors, the latest technology, relatively cheap treatment and good recovery rate, put India on the top of the medical tourism. Patients mostly come to get fertility treatment and for eye care.

          Residential accommodation for foreigners is mostly available at areas like T.Nagar, Nungambakkam, Chetpet, Egmore, Thousand lights which are close to major hospitals in Chennai. As revealed by Dr.Kamaraj, who is attached to a Fertility Centre and Hospital, has said that the hospital authorities actually direct the patients who come from abroad, towards land-lords, who provide accommodation to them. The patients stay there till the end of the treatment and then leave for their countries.

          Thus, Medical Tourism, as a new business, of late, has been developing fast in India, particularly in metropolis. Thanks to the flourishing advanced multi-speciality hospitals in India.