The advent of new trends in internet also had its positive impact
in the growth of medical tourism in South India. Most of the
hospitals have own websites and social network groups providing
latest information on the facilities and service packages. Word of
mouth from those who have already undergone treatment also
plays a major role in bringing in more foreign medical tourists to
these states. Other tools by which Health care tourism is getting
promoted are the websites of Tourism Departments and
informative portals, foreign tie ups, promotional books,
advertising and fairs.
Domestic Health Tourism
Most of the hospitals in the country offer two types of treatment.
One is with high quality and high cost. The other offers the services
with lesser quality and low cost. As a result only the elite class is
able to go for quality treatment. But in the southern states of
Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu the foundation of them is
equality, there isn’t any double standard in healthcare. The
hospitals in these states offer world class treatment at a low cost.
So the number of patients from other parts of the country started
to seek the service in South India. This has given birth to a new
branch in medical tourism - domestic health tourism. People from
other states come to the hospitals in South India for availing better
treatment at an affordable cost. Given the one billion plus
population in India, the domestic health tourism is going to be
an important branch in medical tourism. Giants in healthcare
services in South India have already started moves to tap the
potentials of domestic medical tourism.
Major Specialities in Health Tourism
The South India has all the potential to grow both horizontally
and vertically in healthcare. One can see hospitals equipped with
eminent doctors, skilled nurses and paramedical staff and stateof-the-art devices in every nook and corner of these southern
states. Quality treatment in any branch of medical science can be
availed in the southern part of the country.
Modern Medicine
Heart Care at its Very Best: It is one of the branches of medical
services which attract many health tourists to South India. The
064 m e d i c a l t o u r i s m
ANCHOR
INDIA
doctors who have proven track records add to the reputation of
the hospitals here. Aortic stent grafting, angiography, angioplasty
with contrast, angioplasty, angioplasty with medicated stent,
carotid, coronary artery by-pass surgery, double heart valve
replacement, electrophysiology complex study (EPS), heart
transplant (subject to brain dead donor availability, I.C.D. (Single,
double, combo chamber) implantation, pacemaker (single, double
chamber, biventricular), paediatric interventional cardiology, RF
ablation, paediatric cardiac surgery (ASD,VSD), single heart valve
replacement and thoracic aortic aneurysm are some of the cardiac
treatments offered by the hospitals in South India. In the case of
coronary artery disease, diseases affecting the valves of the heart,
diseases present from birth like holes in the heart or blocks in the
valves, mixing of blood inside the heart keyhole bypass surgery
will be done. To minimise the risk factor, minimal invasive cardiac
surgery is being preferred over normal keyhole bypass surgery.
This method minimise the risks like excess bleeding, possible brain
problems like stroke, kidney disfunction and increased chances
of infection. Cardiac rehabilitation is another important healthcare
service offered in the hospitals in South India. Cardiac
rehabilitation programme help increases the functional ability of
the person. The first of the four phase programme is for those
with the chances of cardiac problems. It is preventive cardiology
program in which normal persons are assessed for the risk factors
of cardiac illness and they are prescribed an exercise program to
keep their heart healthy. The acute cardiac rehabilitation program
will take care of the patient admitted in the hospital for a cardiac
illness. Post acute cardiac rehabilitation program is the most
important phase of any cardiac illness. It is an exercise programme
for a period of 8 weeks.
Orthopaedics: Yet another emerging medical opportunity is in
orthopedics treatments. A number of orthopedic procedures are
available such as hip and knee replacement, the Illizarov
technique, limb lengthening, Birmingham Hip resurfacing
technique, in South Indian Hospitals. Many hospitals specialize
in latest techniques and treatments such as minimal invasive
surgery, cartilage and bone transplantation, spine surgery and
limb sparing surgery. All kinds of musculo- skeletal problems