Over the past few years Hyderabad has become the hub of medical tourism
in India. As the government is also encouraging the concept, it is
growing day by day with more tourists coming to the city. Grabbing it
right, the corporate hospitals are making the maximum out of the
opportunity. They are introducing new methods of treatment and
innovative medical techniques to attract more patients from abroad. Most
of the medical tourists are attracted to the traditional treatments
offered by the hospitals.
Along with Hyderabad, the city of
Visakhapatnam is also following the suit. Both the cities in Andhra
Pradesh are known for their super speciality hospitals with multiple
facilities and huge patient accommodation capabilities.
As more
and more patients coming from aboard, many doctors feel that the concept
of health tour operators or agencies should be popularized in the city
so that patients don’t get cheated by unregistered agents.
Realizing
the fact, that India provides high quality medical treatment for a
cheaper cost, medical tourists especially patients from West Asian and
African countries, come to the city even for common health issues. The
corporate hospitals usually pay a commission of 20 per cent to the
agents and individual doctors for referring foreign patients to their
hospitals. These agents also provide services like making arrangements
for local stay, fixing appointment with doctors and acting as
translators.
Full time agents are also employed by prominent
corporate hospitals to promote themselves in the foreign countries. A
source from a private hospital said, “We also have a marketing
department and international division to promote ourselves. Our
personnel go to west Asian and African countries and stay in touch with
the hospitals and agents there who in turn refer patients to our
hospital for high-end treatment.”
“We employ well experienced
staff who can translate local language and have prior experience of
working in foreign countries. We also coordinate with foreign agencies
and medical tour operators. These operators send us the medical records
of the patients who directly pay to these agencies,” said a spokesperson
from Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad.
Source: Pharmabiz
