Kerala- the haven of medical tourists

The most recent trend in privatisation of health services is medical tourism, which is gaining prominence in developing countries. Globalisation has promoted a consumerist culture, thereby promoting goods and services that can feed the aspirations arising from this culture.

India, like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, is pushing for a big slice of Asia’s lucrative medical tourism market projected to nearly quadruple in value to around 2.3 billion dollars in five years and Kerala is India’s catchword in terms of medical tourism.

During the December-to-March high season, tourists flood Kerala to visit Ayurvedic treatment centres which have sprouted everywhere in the State of 32 million. Ayurveda, which translates as knowledge of life, operates on the principle of balancing doshas, or aspects of the body — vata (related to movement), pitta (digestion) and kapha (body fluids) — using herbs, metals and minerals is one of Kerala’s USPs (unique selling points).

Kerala is not only a beautiful destination in Southern India known for its scenic beaches and serene backwaters. Of late God’s own country has gained international attention for Medical Tourism and is becoming a popular international medical tourism destination.

Medical tourism is like any leisure product where apart from travel package, one gets medical treatment at the best hospitals. The medical treatment for various ailments are packaged with leisure packages at luxurious tourist resorts.

Advanced and sophisticated hospitals of International standards, moderate weather throughout the year, renowned doctors specialized in almost all major disciplines, easier communication with majority English speaking public, world class resorts and hotels,

incredibly competitive cost for packages of medical treatment and surgery compared to other countries, well connected by Air network from major medical tourism markets in the Middle East European markets and South Asia all makes Kerala a favourite among medical tourism destinations.

The traditional alternative medical therapy ofAyurveda, which helps to rejuvenate and revitalize the body has always been popular among health watchers and both Indian and Foreign tourists. Kerala is usually marketed as a health destination for its Ayurveda packages. Medical tourism is marketed along with ayurveda and other health packages.

However, many tourists touch down Kerala not for just experiencing the healing touch of Ayurveda but also to make use of the world class hospitals well backed up by a team of expert doctors and paramedical staffs to avail quality treatment options at a fraction of the costs in their country.

Now a days, patients from far off countries such as the EU, the USA, Africa and Australia among others flock to Kerala hospitals for various surgical procedures, infertility treatments, dental implants and organ transplants.  The exorbitant fees for medical procedures in their home countries have made the patients from the West and the Middle East to turn their glance towards Kerala.

Kerala has many most modern hospitals that employ the state of the art facilities and treatment options. General Surgery for various medical conditions such as thoracic, abdominal and pelvic surgery, orthopedic implants, cancer treatments etc are performed in various hosapitals across the State.

What many tourists have now discovered is that Kerala has a pool of trained doctors and nurses and an excellent network of hospitals that offer international standard treatments at very affordable prices. Faced with exorbitant fees for procedures such as cardiac surgery, dentistry and cosmetic surgery in their home countries, patients from the West and the Middle East have begun looking at India and Kerala in particular.