India’s medical tourism has experienced growth in the recent past decades to emerge as a vital factor in the global health care system.

The country is a favourite destination for millions of patients from other nations seeking affordable yet excellent medical care.

However, for the increasing numbers of international patients visiting India for medical treatments, a number of myths and misconceptions still exist.

This blog by Karetrip seeks to unravel these myths and achieve a realistic perspective of the perception of medical tourism in India.

Myth 1: Indian Healthcare is Substandard

Reality: Indian Medical Tourism is a myth and one of them being the most cliched one is the quality of India’s healthcare services.

This and many such misconceptions surface simply because of ignorance on the improved standard and level of medical care being offered in India.

The fact, however, is that India has some of the best hospitals and the best doctors in the world.

A lot of Indian doctors have been trained in world-class institutions all over the globe and then they come back to India and apply what they have learned over these years.

Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, etc are hospitals with all high end facilities which are recognized with Joint Commission International (JCI) and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH).

These are accreditations to ensure that Indian hospitals meet international standards of healthcare delivery.

Myth 2: Communication Barriers are Insurmountable

Reality: A common myth is the language and communication barriers faced by International Patients to get appropriate care in India. India is a multilingual country and English is prevalent and used extensively, especially for the healthcare sector.

You can expect most doctors and medical staff at established hospitals to communicate in English and most hospitals also hold language translators and interpreters to help non-English speaking patients.

Moreover, hospitals have overseas patient offices to help them communicate and give individual care.

Myth 3: India is Unsafe for Medical Tourists

Reality: One of the most common reasons for avoiding medical treatment in India is safety concerns. Caution needs to be exercised and awareness needs to be spread in terms of travel advisories but it is wrong to believe that India as a nation is unsafe for medical tourists.

Some of the big cities, like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai (which are the medical tourism centres) have in place, well developed infrastructure and the safety mechanism for foreign patients.

Since care is provided by hospitals,they also go an extra mile just to ensure that tourists feel safe and welcomed.

These services include airport pick up, local boarding and lodging as well as local transportation requirements, ensuring a safe environment for patients and accompanying patients.

Myth 4: The Cost Savings are Not Worth the Travel

Reality: India has turned out to be a great place for medical tourism to those who cannot afford to seek medical attention in their countries since the prices are relatively high.

Suppose it is urgently necessary to have heart bypass surgery, in the US it will cost about $150 000, whereas in India? It's about $10,000. Flying around the country and booking a hotel room does not consume all of your money but you still have plenty of dollars remaining.

Moreover, most of the hospitals make it even sweeter by offering the health as well as financial offers through combining a package that includes procedure, accommodation as well as aftercare services.

Myth 5: Follow-up Care is Inadequate

Reality: It's common to worry about what happens after a medical procedure, especially if you're far from home. But here’s the thing—Indian hospitals get it.

They really focus on making sure international patients are well taken care of once they leave.You'll receive detailed reports and summaries that can be easily handed over to your local doctor.

Plus, chatting with your Indian doctor is just a video call away thanks to telemedicine services being so popular there now. And guess what? These hospitals often work hand-in-hand with healthcare providers around the globe ensuring smooth sailing for follow-up care.

Myth 6: Only Minor Procedures are Safe in India

Reality:

There is this silly thing going on that only minor operations should be performed in India and anything bigger is dangerous business; not at all! Concerning the medical treatments India is a professional cook who knows how to prepare a flavorful tea and organise dinner for hundreds of people.

It goes from problems of the heart (cardiology) to fighting cancer (oncology), correcting bones (orthopaedics), or even brain problems (neurosurgery)—they have got it covered.

These aren’t rumours and fables; these are actual trends observed by hundreds of thousands of foreigners who place their own lives, their organs, bones, and even hearts in the hands of such skilled and qualified doctors.

Myth 7: The Quality of Medical Equipment is Inferior

Reality: Another myth is that Indian hospitals use outdated or inferior medical equipment. This is far from the truth. Most Indian leading hospitals take much money in the latest technologies as well as equipment so as to be at par with other worldwide hospitals.

The country has a large number of private clinics which are offering services to international patients.

These machines are mostly imported from America, Germany or Japan depending on the needs of the country. They all keep strict measures and conditions concerning the equipment.

They also embrace modern equipment in treatment and diagnosis that include robotic surgery, diagnosis equipment and the imaging systems.

Myth 8: Medical Tourism in India is Unregulated

Reality: The medical tourism business in India is not as strictly controlled as in some European or North American nations, but it is hardly uncontrolled.

The Indian government together with few industry bodies have created various guidelines and regulations aimed at ensuring safe and quality health care for global patients.

Hospitals seeking international accreditation must comply with stringent standards, and The Medical Council of India (MCI), on the other hand, governs medical practitioners’ licensing and practice while many other facilities endeavor to compete favorably within the international market.

Myth 9: There is No Legal Recourse for Medical Malpractice

Reality: One of the chief issues highlighted by potential international medical tourists is that they can never seek justice in India for medical negligence. Nevertheless, India still has a legal foundation by virtue of the laws governing medical negligence and malpractice of physicians and nurses.

Consumer courts, as legal forums with jurisdiction over complaints relating to services, can be accessed by patients. Also, there is the Medical Council of India (MCI) where one can report someone or MVAC that investigates complaints against medical practitioners.

Although it may be rather difficult for a foreign patient to seek legal help in a foreign country, many hospitals actually have legal teams that can aid the patient if a problem occurs.

Thus, medical tourism in India is rather meaningful and promising for the patient both in terms of the quality of services and their cost. Much as the myths and misconceptions would have it, India has raised the standards and made it possible for the world to afford quality medical services.

The following are some of the things that patients can expect: superior quality medical care; well-trained physicians, nurses; high-tech equipment; and holistic patient care services.

It is, therefore, clear that by eradicating these myths, the benefits inherent in Medical tourism India can be exploited as more people have quality information on the same.

Like any medical procedure done in another country, it is crucial to take your time and do lots of studies in order to get value for your money, time and safety.