The city famous for its pearls and the Charminar seems to be gaining fame for medical facilities too, with medical tourists flocking to Hyderabad. In what can be called a trend reversal, people from all over the world are making their way to Hyderabad, which has become the new medical hub.
A main reason for this, hospital authorities believe is the return of many highly skilled surgeons to the city after studying and practicing medicine abroad. This adds to the brand value of the hospitals.
The other reason is the cost effectiveness of treatments offered. Most estimates claim that medical treatment in India costs just a tenth of what they cost in the US or UK.
Availability of technology at par with other countries,increasing compliance with international quality standards, good patient care and immediate responses from hospitals have made treatment in the city attractive for medical tourists. “The number of foreign patients have increased in our hospital by about 15 percent in the last few years and is expected to increase further.
The main reason is our superior technology, strong brand value, doctors, surgeons and quality services. Our hospital gets patients from over 45 countries,” says P Radhey Mohan, senior general manager (International Marketing), Apollo Health City.
Among various surgeries, organ transplant is the most sought after by foreign patients. Corporate hospitals are reportedly matching up to the success rate for transplants at the international level.
“Global Hospital has performed 35 liver transplants including eight living donor transplants (where a part of the liver is donated). The success rate is comparable to that of any transplant centre in the world.
We are also actively working in other areas of healthcare like stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine,” said Dr Vedagiri Rambabu, media coordinator. The hospital gets patients from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Oman, Egypt, Iran and other Arab countries.
Among transplants, liver, kidney, heart and bone marrow are the most sought after while keyhole and pinhole heart surgeries, joint replacement, neuro-surgeries, cancer treatment, cosmetic surgeries, surgical gastro-entrology, bariatric surgery and urology are the main procedures that draw in medical tourists.
Amrita Didyala
Expressbuzz