Medical Tourism : Tamil Nadu’s Top Agenda

Lakshmi Subramanian- Chennai

Medical tourism can be arguably announced as the most sought after term in the tourism industry today. Keeping in view the gains associated with this emerging area of tourism, the state of Tamil Nadu is working hard to establish itself as the number one state for medical tourism in India. Tamil Nadu has been in the thick of things as far as the medical tourism segment is concerned. Chennai is gradually becoming the most favoured medical destination. According to George Eapen, chief executive officer, Apollo Hospitals, "Currently about 10 per cent of the patients come from abroad for medical treatment. We are aiming at a growth of 35 per cent in the next three to four years."

The Apollo Group, Sanakara Nethralaya, Madras Medical Mission and MIOT group are pioneers in medical treatment and these hospitals get overseas patients quite regularly. Patients from US, UK, SAARC countries, CIS countries, West Asia and South East Asia come to Chennai for treatment, be it for disease management or wellness programmes.

India has always been popular on the medical tourism map as tourists international tourists used to come to India for various treatments. It is only in the recent past that the country has realised the potential of this emerging segment. Today, the state tourism boards, ministry of tourism, the government, travel agents, tour operators, hotels, resorts and several others involved in the healthcare and hospitality sector are looking to make it big in this segment. Indians, NRIs and tourists from around the world are beginning to realise the potential of modern and traditional Indian medicine. Indian hospitals too have realised the potential of this market and have begun to provide customised services for foreign visitors.

Visitors from the USA, Europe etc find that medical treatment in Chennai is very cost-effective and less time consuming as compared to their own homeland. For instance, a heart surgery that costs about Rs 20 lakh abroad, would cost Rs two lakh if done at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. The low costs are feasible and also a reality in India because of the rupee value, low labour cost and cheap manpower.

Today, apart from serious medical treatments, the traveller who visits Tamil Nadu is also looking for a holistic and wellness-based package that includes a refreshing or relaxing tour. Concepts such as naturopathy, aromatherapy, reki, pranik healing, music therapy, herbal therapy and so on are gaining popularity amongst tourists.

In addition, most hotels and resorts in Tamil Nadu have their own spas and ayurvedic centres that further encourage such alternative forms of medical tourism. These wellness programmes are referred to as lifestyle medication programmes. The Indian health care industry has realised this potential and is developing several alternate therapies to cater to the requirements of international tourists. In addition, tourists today utilise the services of spas available in these resorts. Keeping all this aspects in view, the TamilNadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) in unison with Apollo hospitals launched a travellers privilege coupon called the Apollo Hospitals - TTDC Preventive Health Care Package. This package gives the tourist a 15 per cent discount on Apollo preventive health check. Those tourists, who take any of the TTDC tour packages can use this coupon and a health check can be conducted at any of the Apollo Hospitals or clinics across the country. This coupon comes along with the ticket purchased for any of the tour packages organised by TTDC.

Thus, corporate hospitals in Chennai are able to lure foreign patients by providing a good package comprising of medical expertise, nursing facilities, priority treatment at a cost-effective price. In addition, waiting time is minimal which is proving to be a major attraction for patients coming in from the UK or US particularly.

Eapen further added that, "Tourism is everybody's business. All players have to contribute their share. The key players in this segment - health care organisations, insurance companies, travel agents, government, airline industry and hotels have to come together to make the medical tourism segment a major one in India."