Medical Tourism

Origin and Evolution of Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is thousands of years old. In ancient Greece, pilgrims and patients came from all over the Mediterranean to the sanctuary of the healing gnd, Asklepios, Epidaurus. In Roman Britain, patients took the waters at a shrine at Bath, a practice that continued for 2,000years, From the 18th century wealthy Europeans travelled to spas from Germany to the Nile. Since the early nineteenth century, when there were no restrictions on travel in Europe, people visited neighboring countries to improve their health. At first, mere traveling was a good therapy for mental and physical well-being. In the 21st century relatively low-cost jet travel has taken the industry beyond the wealthy and desperate. Later, mostly wealthy people began traveling to tourist destinations like the Swiss lakes, the Alps and special tuberculosis sanatoriums, where professional and often specialized medical care was offered. In this century, however, medical tourism expanded to a much larger sca Thailand, followed by India, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Cuba and others quickly became the most popular destinations for medical tourists. Complicated surgeries and dental works, kidney dialysis, organ transplantation and sex changes, topped the list of the most popular procedures. It was estimated that in 2002, six hundred thousand medical tourists came tr Bangkok and Phuket medical centers in Thailand, while approximately one hundred and fifty thousand foreign patients visited India during that time. From Neolithic and Bronze age wherein people used to visit neighboring countries for Minerals and Hot Springs. Today we have reached the era where Hospitals are more like Spas and Spas more like hospitals..

Introduction to Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is defined as an act of travel of patients from their home country to other destinations for availing medical services, Medical tourism, alternatively called health tourism and wellness tourism, is a term that has risen from the rapid growth of an industry where people from all around the world are traveling to other countries to obtain medical, dental, and surgical care while at the same time touring, vacationing, and fully experiencing the attractions of the countries that they are visiting. With countries like India, Mexico, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Greece, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Peru, Hungary, Israel,  Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, and the Philippines actively promoting t its future assure to be bright.
Medical tourism is an idea with which a greatly lucrative potential is attached. Medical tourists are generally residents of the industrialized nations of the world and primarily come from The United States, Canada, Great Britain, Western Europe, Australia, and The Middle East. But more and more, people from many other countries of the world ane seeking out places where they can both enjoy a vacation and obtain medical treatment at a reasonable price. Medical tourism is an opportunity for patients to travel for medical care and take advantage of reduced costs and wait times. A journey that patients take from one country to another country to get cost effective and efficient medical treatment, followed by a great vacation at some of the most beautiful locations is called medical tourism. In simple terms, the medical tourism refers to “visit by overseas patients for medical treatment and relaxation.
“Medical tourism has been our cognized market since 1980’s and is now a rapidly developing. The increase in technological and medical research and developments, augmented product consciousness and globalization are among the most influential trends that affect the industry. Consumer behavior can be summmarized in four main reasons why patients travel abroad for medical care
al b) Availability of treatments Quality of health care
cl Reduced waiting times
d Cost savings

Medical tourism: A Global perspective

Medical tourism happens when patients go to a different country for either urgent of elective medical procedures. This phenomenon is fast becoming a worldwide, multibillion- dollar industry.
The reasons patients travel for treatment vary. Many medical tourists from the United States are seeking treatment at a quarter or sometimes even a 10th of the cost at home From Canada, it is often people who are frustrated by long waiting times, From Great Britain, the patient can’t wait for treatment by the National Health Service but also can’t afford to see a physician in private practice. For others, becoming a medical tourist is a chance to combine a tropical vacation with elective or plastic surgery. And moreover, patients are coming from poorer countries such as Bangladesh where treatment may not be available and going for surgery in European or westem developed countries is expensive.
Countries that actively promote medical tourism include Cuba, Costa Rica, Hungary, india, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, and Thailand. Belgium, Poland, and Singapore are now entering the field. South Africa specializes in medical safaris-visit the country for a safari, with a stopover for plastic surgery, a nose job, and a chance to see lions and elephants.
According to a new market report published by transparency market research “Medical tourism market (India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, Turkey South Korea, Costa Rica, Poland, Dubai and Philippines) – Global industry analysis, size, share, growth, trends and forecast, 2013-2019,” the global medical tourism market was valued at USD 10,5 billion in 2012 and it is estimated to reach a market worth USD 32.5 billion in 2019 at CAGR of 17.9% from 2013 to 2019.

 

Why the world is moving towards medical tourism

Medical tourists have good cause to seek out care beyond the home country for many reasons. In some regions of the world, state-of-the-art medical facilities are hard to come by, if they exist at all; in other countries, the public health-care system is so overburdened that it can take years to get needed care. In Britain and Canada, for instance, the waiting period for a hip replacement can be a year or more, while in Bangkok or Bangalore, a patient can be in the operating room the morning after getting off a plane
For many medical tourists, though, the real attraction is price. The cost of surgery in India, Thailand or South Africa can be one-tenth of what it is in the United States or Western Europe, and sometimes even less. A heart valve replacement that would cost $200,000 or more in the U.S., for example, goes for $10,000 in India-and that includes round-trip airfare and a brief vacation package, Similarly, a metal-free dental bridge worth $5,500 in the US. costs $500 in India, a knee replacement in Thai and with six days of physical therapy custs about one fifth of what it would in the States, and Lasik eye surgery worth $3,700 in the U.S. is available in many other countries for only $730. Cosmetic surgery savings are even greater. A full facelift that would cost $20,000 in the U.S. runs about $1,250 in South Africa
The savings sound very attractive, but a good new hip and a nice new face don’t seem like the sort of things anyone would want to bargain with. How does the balance of savings versus risk pay off in terms of success rates?

Inferior medical care would not be worth having at any price, and some sliptics warn that Third World surgery cannot possibly be as good as that available in the United States. In fact, there have been cases of botched plastic surgery, particularly from Mexican clinics in the days before anyone figured out what a gold mine cheap, high-quality care could be for the developing countries.
Yet, the hospitals and clinics that cater to the tourist market often are among the best in the world, and many are staffed by physicians trained at major medical conters in the United States and Europe Bangkok’s Bumrundgrad hospital has more than 200 surgeons who are board-certified in the United States, and one of Singapore’s major hospitals is a branch of the prestigious Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. field where expenance is as important as technology. Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center in Delhi and Faridabad, India, performs nearly 15,000 heart operations every year, and the death rate among patients during surgery is only 0.8 percent-less than half that of most major hospitals in the United States
In some countries, clinics are backed by sophisticated research infrastructures as well. India is among the world’s leading countries for biotechnology research, Both India and South Korea are pushing ahead with stem cell research at all level approach. In many foreign clinics, too, the doctors are supported by more registered nurses per patient than in any Western facility, and some clinics provide single-patient rooms that resemble guestrooms in four-star hotels, with a nurse dedicated to each patient 24 hours a day.
Add to this the fact that some clinics assign patients a personal assistant for the pout- hospital recovery period and throw in a vacation incentive as well, and the deal gets even more attractive. Additionally, many Asian airlines offer frequent-flyer miles to ease the cost of retuming for follow-up visits

Medical tourism trend and what statistics shows:

Ten years ago, medical tourism was hardly large enough to be noticed. Today, more than 250,000 patients per year visit Singapore alore-nearly half of them from the Middle East. In 2012, approximately hait a million foreign patients will travel to india for medical cares whereas in 2002, the number wat only 150.000,
In monetary terms, experts estimate that medical tourism could bring India as much as $2.2 billion per year by 2015. Argentina, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, South Africa, Jordan, Malaysia, Hungary, Latvia and Estonia all have broken into this lucrative market as well or are trying to do so, and more countries join the list every year

Trends in medical tourism in the near future:

Some Important trends guarantee that the market for medical tourism will continue to expand in the years ahead. By 2025, the health of the vast Baby Boom generation will have begun its slow, final decline, and, with more than 220 million Boomers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, this represents a significant market for inexpensive, high-cuality medical care.
Medical tourism will be particularly attractive in the United States, where an estimated 43 million people are without health insurance and 120 million without dental coverage numbers that are both likely to grow. Patients in Britain, Canada and other countries with long waiting lists for major surgery will be just as eager to take advantage of foreign health care options.

Top destinations for medical tourism India

India hosted a record of 400,000 medical tourists from all over the world in 2012. India is more popular among medical tourists interested in cardiac procedures, cancer diagnosis. and treatment. Being a pioneer in the medical tourism industry, India offers new technology, alternative and experimental treatments alongside en internationally trained workforce who speak English. India has a broad spectrum of specializations including
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cardiology, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, ophthalmology, orthopedics, transplants, and assisted reproduction. Nowadays, India remains a leading medical tourism country that promotes widely at both a governmental and private sector level as well as offering medical visas. Cost savings are prominent as one can expect to save 58% when compared to the US or 47% for the UK. Other driving factors are high quality of medical care, availability of treatments and reduced wa ting times.

 

Thailand

While, so far, India has attracted patients from Europe, the Middle East and Canaca, Thailand has been the goal for Americans.
India initially attracted people who had left that country for the West, Thailand treated western expatriates across Southeast Asia. Many of them worked for western companies and had the advantage of flexible, worldwide medical insurance plans geared specifically at the expatriate and overseas corporate markets.
With the growth of medical-related travel and aggressive marketing, Bangkok became a Centre for medical tourism. Bangkok’s International Medical Centre offers services in 26 languages, recognizes cultural and religious dietary restrictions, and has a special wing for Japanese bat ents
The medical tour companies that serve Thailand often put emphasis on the vacation aspects, offering post-recovery resort stays.

South Africa
South Africa also draws many cosmetic surgery patients, especially from Europe, and many South African clinics offer packages that include personal assistants, visits with trained therapists, and trips to top beauty salons, post-operative care in luxury hotels and safaris br other vacation incentives. Because the South African rand has such a long standing low rate on the foreign-exchange market, medical tourism packages there tend to be perpetual bargains as well.

Mexico
Mexico attracts between 150,000 and 500,000 medical tourists annually but this number cannot be exactly quantified, as Americans do not need a visa to enter the country. Americans are attracted by Mexico’s proximity to the US and cost savings of around 63% Despite promotion coming only from the private sector, Mexico has built a reputation for offering dentistry treatments, cosmetic and plastic surgeries, orthopedics, and cardiology procedures.

Argentina
Argentina ranks high for plastic surgery, and Hungary draws large numbers of patients from Western Europe and the U.S. for high-quality cosmetic and dental procedures that cost half of what they would in Germany and America.

Dubai
Lastly, Dubai-a destination already linown as a luxury varation paradise-is scheduled to open the Dubai Healthcare City by 2010. Situated on the Red Sea, this clinic will be the largest interrational medical center between Europe and Southeast Asia. Slated to include al new branch of the Harvard Medical School, it also may be the most prestigious foreign clinic on the horizon

Malaysia
Malaysia has already established itself as a holiday destination but has now expanded Facilities to cope with the annual 341,288 medical tourists (2007) that it receives from Medical Tourism. Indonesia (70%), Singapore (10%), Jopar (6%), Europe (5%) and india (3%). These medical tourists are attracted to Malaysia thanks to English being a widely spoken
language and Malay being understood by Indonesians as well as the promotion from the Malaysia Health Travel Council. The main treatments that the country offers are assisted reproduction, orthopedics, cosmetic surgery and stem cell therapy

Jordan
Jordan is the largest medical tourism hub in the Middle East and attracts around 250,000 Medical tourists, mostly from the surrounding countries (38% fragis, 30% Palestine, 31% Sudan) despite targeting their promotion to the US market. These medical tourists are attracted thanks to the excellent language skills of the workforce and the high quality of care. The country specializes in cardiology, orthopedics, cosmetic surgery and dentistry The perception among Western patients of the strict religious rules that exist means that Jordan’s reputation is underdeveloped as a global medical tourism destination, However, Jordan’s potential includes cost savings of 65% when compared to the US and 57% when compared to the prices in the UK

Brazil
Approximately 180,000 medical tourists visited Brazil last year to receive various medical services cosmetic surgery topping the list. There are over 4,500 ficensed plastic surgeons in Brazil today. Besides expertise, the low cost of plastic surgery is another reason why many medical tourists prefer Brazil lover their home countries. Plastic surgery procedures in Brazil cost 60% less when you compare the cost of the same procedures in the US. The wide variety of plastic surgery procedures all over Brazil is also an attraction

Turkey
Turkey attracts approx. 110,000 medical tourists per year according to PBB estimates (2012) Majority of medical tourists who visit Turkey are interested in cheap eye surgery and check- ups in Turkey’s numerous ICI accredited hospitals. Medical tourists from the US enjoy cost saving up to 50%. Turkey is also home to many western trained doctors

Taiwan
Taiwan also hosts a substantial number of medical tourists every year. Acc. Το PBB, approximately 90,000 international tourists visited Taiwan in 2012 to take advantages of the country’s world class medical services/facilities. The country has invested heavily to

Costa Rica
According to statistics, approximately 50,000 international tourists visit Costa Rica every year to take advantage of affordable medical services in the country. 50,000 medical tourists represent 15% of all international tourists who visit Costa Rica every year

South Korea
South Korea currently attracts 40,000 medical tourists mainly from Japan and China, followed by the US and Canada thanks to the cutting edge technology, which is rellected in specializations focusing on the areas of oncology, cardiology, ophthalmology, orthopedics and dentistry.
The introduction of medical visas and construction of medical tourism hub on Jeju Island alongside promotion by the Council for Korean Medicine Overseas Promotion sre hoped to Increase South Korea’s reputation as a medical tourism destination for Westerners and increase inbound medical tourists to 100,000 annually, South Korea cloes not offer any cost savings and so it is unlikely that the typical American medical tourists will be attracted.

Singapore
Singapore is a popular medical tourism destination because it offers one of the best mest sophisticated cancer diagnosis and treatment services, ACE 10 PBB Singapore hosted 610000 medical tourists in 2012. Apart from offering some of the best cancer treatment services in the world, Singapore is home to one of the best medical facilities in the world

Other countries.

Other countries interested in medical tourism tended to start offering care to specific markets but have expanded their services as the demand grows around the world, Cuba, for example, first aimed its services at well-off patients from Central and South America and now attracts patients from Canada, Germany, and Italy, Israel caters to both Jewish patients.

and people from some nearby countries. One Israeli hospital advertises worldwide services specialtzing in both male and female infertility, in vitro fertilization, and high-risk pregnancies

India in Medical Tourism
According to the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), India is unique as it offers holistic medicinal services. With yoga, meditation, ayurveda, allopathy, and other systems of medicines, India offers a unique basket of services to an individual that is difficult to match by other countries, says CII, Aiso, clinical outcomes in India are at par with the world best centers, besides having internationally qualified and experienced specialists.

Statistics suggest that the medical tourism industry in India is worth $333 million (Rs 1,450 Crores) while a study by CII-McKinsey estimates that the country could earn Rs5,000-10,000 Crores by 2012. The study predicts that, “by 2012, if medical tourism were to reach 25 per cent of revenues of private up-market players, up to Rs 10,000 Crore will be added to the revenues of these players”.
According to the Government of India, India’s $17-billion-a-year health-care industry could grow 13 per cent in each of the next six years, boosted by medical tourism, which industry watchers say is growing at 30 per cent annually, Probably realizing the potential, majne corporates such as the Tatas, Fortis, Max, Wockhardt, Piramal, and the Escorts group have made significant investments in setting up modern hospitals in major cities. Mirny have also designed special packages for patients, including airport pickups, visa assistance and board and lociging
The health care sector in India has witnessed an enormous growth in infrastructure in the private and voluntary sector. The private sector, which was very modest in the early Stages. has now become a flourishing industry equipped with the most modern state-of-the-art technology at its disposal, it is estimated that 75-80% of health care services and investments in India are now provided by the private sector. An added plus had been that India has one of the largest pharmaceutical industries in the world. It is self-sufficient in drug production and exports drugs to more than 180 countries. India has top-notch centers
OCOL
for open-heart surgery, pediatric heart surgery, hip and mee replacement, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, bone marrow transplants and cancer therapy, and virtually all of India’s clinics are equipped with the latest electronic and medical diagnostic equipment. Unlike many of its competitors in medical tourism, India also has the technological sophistication and infrastructure to maintain its market niche, and indian pharmaceuticals meet the stringent requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, India’s quality of care is up to American standards, and some Indian inedical centers even provide services that are uncommon elsewhere. For example, hip surgery patients in India can out for a hip-resurfacing procedure, in which damaged bone is scraped away and replaced with chrome alloy-an operation that costs less and causes less post-upurative trauma than the traditional replacement procedure performed in the US
Many private hospitals in India are willing to provide medical treatment to patients irrespective of nationality, only few are the forefront of promoting the health- hospitality mix. Some of the corporate hospitals in India that lead the medical tourism revolution are:

Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre
Apollo Hospitals
Wockhardt Hospitals
Aravind Eye Hospitals
Fortis Healthcare
Leelawati Hospital
Dr. Vivek Saggar’s Dental Care & Cure Centre
NM Excellence
Manipal Hospital
PD Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre
LV Prasad Eye Institute
B.M.Birla Herat Research Centre
Christian Medical College
Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital

Apart from the private players, public sector hospitals like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been receiving patients from over 16 countries including European nations and there is a steady increase in the number of patients, mainly for complex surgical procedures. The AIIMS has also initiated a dedicated International Healthcare Service team

which will take care of the patient right from arrival till their departure coordinating all aspects of medical treatment.

 

Medical Packages

The health care sector in India has witnessed an enormous growth in infrastructure in theie private and voluntary sector. The private sector, which was very modest in the early stages, has now become a flourishing industry equipped with the most modern state-of-the-art technology at its disposal. It is estimated that 75-80% of health care services and Investments in India are now provided by the private sector.
An added plus had been that India has one of the largest pharmaceutical industries in the world. It is self-sufficient in drug production and exports drugs to more than 180 countries

Indian Advantage

1- Quality and Range of Services
India has number of hospitals offering world class treatments in nearly every medical sector such as cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, joint replacement, orthopedic surgem gastroenterology, ophthalmology, transplants and uralogy to name a few
The various specialties covered are Neurology, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Ophthalmology. Rheumatology, Endocrinology, ENT, Paediatrics, Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Neurology. Urology, Nephralogy, Dermatology, Dentistry Plastic Surgery, Gynecology Pulmonology, Psychiatry, General Medicine & General Surgery. For its quality of services and the infrastructure available, India is attracting a vast pool of tourists from the Middle East, Africa etc. As Indian corporate hospitals like Apollo, Max Health Care, Fortis etc. are on par with the best hospitals in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore there is scope for improvement, and the country is becoming a preferred medical destination

2- Manpower
India has a large pool of doctors (approx. 600000), nurses & paramedics with required Specialization and expertise and the language advantage (English speaking skills). The medical education system caters to the ever-increasing demand for the delivery of the quality health care services all over the country.

3- The Price Advantage
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.
With 50 million Americans without health insurance and the waiting lists for state-rue facilities often endless in the UK, Canada and Europe, foreigners are Increasingly Hocking to Indie because it offers quality treatment at a fifth of the cost abroad.
In India, complicated surgical procedures are being done at 1/10″ the cost as compared to the procedures in the developed countries. Not only this, the hospitals are well equipped to hancle the data and information through computerized Hospital Information Systems:
The hospitalization and the procedural price advantage also is supported by Lower Medication cost.
If a liver transplant costs in the range of 137,867 USD-160,845 USD in Europe and double that in US, few Indian hospitals have the wherewithal to do it in around 34,466 USD-45,955 USD. Similarly, if a heart surgery in the US costs about Rs 45.000 USD, a leading Indian hospital will do it in roughly 4,500USD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COST COMPARISON-INDIA VS UNITED KINGDOM (UK)

Significant cost differences exist between UK. and India when it comes to medical treatment. Accompanied with the cost are waiting times which exist in U.K. for patients which range from 3 months to over months

India is not only cheaper, but the waiting time is almost nil. This is due to the outburst of the private sector which comprises of hospitals and clinics with the latest technology and best practitioners. According tohttp://www.ind.an-medical-tourism.com

 

Cost comparison between India, USA, Thailand, and Singapore

4- Tourism Attraction
India has a 5000 year old civilization and is known for its cultural and religious diversity wit’s diverse geographical landmarks. The traditional arts and crafts add to its appeal tourist’s favorite. Along with this Indians enjoy freedom, vibrant democracy, and women. empowerment

 

5- Alternative Therapy
Indla offers not just treatment but spiritual and mental healing as well, india needs to club together a couple of ‘pathies because it has a very strong base of alternative healing therapies like yoga, naturopathy, ayurveda Kerala’s health retreats, etc

No Waitingin addition to the Increasingly top-class medical care, a big draw for foreign patients is also the very minimal or hardly any waitlist as is common in European or American hospitals. Hospitals now are starting to attract foreign patients from industrialized countries, and especially from Britain, U.S.A, Canada, where patients are becoming fed up with long waits for elective surgery under overstretched government health plans.

Hospitals should focus on developing workforce with:

1 Positive attitude: “I can do it is the first thought that an employee should get when he encounters a problem. He/she can think positively if he/she is happy, cheerful with gond sense of humor.
2 Ingenuity: Employees should possess natural incentive and creative abilities to solve unforeseen problems. They should be capable of coming up with satisfactory solutions instantaneously

3 Initiative: If a hospital has employees who are self-starters, then it is like a dream come true. If you empower people, then they show exceptional resourcefulness handling unforeseen events or situations effectively.
4. Loyalty: Organization should value an employee who maintains service Interest uppermost in his mind. Employees who display a high degree of sincerity and homesty of purpose and are upright in dealings with petients. Superiors, equals and subordinates are asset to any organization.
5.Maturity: Tact and maturity are the keys to handle difficult and demanding patients
Employees who are considerate and understanding in desaling with patients can form the backbone of service excellence culture.
6.Team spirit: Healthcare cannot be delivered by a single person; it is always a teamwork of people with diversified competencies.
Employees who find ready acceptance by others and make good contribution towards functioning of the group are very good team players. They provide wholehearted co operation to colleagues, superiors, and subordinates.
7. Interpersonal skills: Interpersonal skills are of paramount importance. Written and oral communication, listening skills and body language play a very important role in service delivery. It is important to be respectful and courteous with co workers and patients
8. Appearance and Bearing: Hospitals should see that the appearance and bearing of employees is synchronized at all levels. It should not happen that support staff Tike kitchen and cleaning staff does not follow any hygiene standard. It is not only the employee who is properly dressed draws attention but the employee who is not neatly dressed also excites discussion amongst the patient relatives

Challenges and Issues.

The challenges facing Indian medical tourism industry are as follows:
1)No strong Government support/Initiative to promote medical tourism.
2) Lack of coordination among various players in the industry-airline operators, hotels and hospitals.
3) The riegative perceptions about India with regard to public sanitation/ hygiene
standards or prevalence of contagious diseases.
4) No proper accreditation and regulation system for hospitals.
5) Lack of uniform pricing policy across hospitals.
Strong competitions from many other players
7) Lack of insurance policies for this sector.
8) Low Investments in health infrastructure
9) Growth generates healthcare challenges in booming India. The country graduates 27,000 doctors each year but most want to work in cities. But millions must walk miles to see a physician.
10) Inequalities in healthcare access between private and public systems may increase
11) This may induce domestic brain drain from public to private sector
12) Indian Government’s campaign to make India a primary medical tourism
13) Destination may divert attention from primary healthcare & other sectors.
14) Availability of hotel rooms in India is considered to be more difficult as compared to other countries. In addition, the cost of accommodation is another hindrance to middle level international travelers visiting India.
15) Public-Private Partnership is required to provide quality services to attract potential healthcare seekers from various countries

Conclusion

Medical tourism is likely to increase over the next decade as more patents are able in access the internet and acquire information relevant to care offered overseas at an affordable price. While some patients will benefit immensely from treatment as a medical tourist, many legal and ethical issues will also arise. The world is becoming global village and people are traveling from one country to another acc to their requirements. The cost of medical treatment in western countries is much higher than countries like India, Mexico, Thailand, Costa Rica, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia etc. These upuntries ant providing state of the art medical facilities and treatment with much less cost or price. The recession in west and decrease in the price of air travel also increases the medical tourism, India is emerging a global player in the medical tourism industry. Though there are many opportunities and problems, but India shall overcome from all of this and become major player in this industry. Medical tourism provides benefits to medical tourists and host countries by providing employment to several people and less cost to travelers, foreign exchange earnings for host countries etc. So, at last we conclude that medical tourism is now becoming a lucrative industry for many countries, and they are competing to attrackt the medical tourists and India is becoming major player in this industry.