The state of healthcare in India is tumultuous to say the least.  On the on hand, India has some of the most state-of-the-art private hospital systems in the world; it’s a place in which medical tourists can receive the finest treatment for costs that are significantly lower than those of more developed nations.  Its private healthcare facilities make it one of best places in the world for medical tourism. 

Happy New Year!  We hope the first days of 2007 have been going great for you, and that they set the tone for the rest of the year.  Being that it’s a brand new year, we wanted to update you on some brand new travel rules that will become effective in a few short weeks and will likely affect you if you’re planning on traveling out of the country for medical reasons or otherwise.

Here we go again: another discussion about obesity in America.  Why, you may ask, is this being discussed on a website about medical tourism?  Simple.  The obesity crisis, epedemic, catastrophe (use any word you like) and the problems, direct and indirect, associated with it very much relate to why our healthcare costs are launching into the stratusphere.  And, of course, our high healthcare costs are a big reason why many Americans are seeking medical treatment overseas.   

The Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), a multi-specialty hospital located in Kerala, India, and one of the country’s premier medical centers, has announced plans to set up clinics in Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia in 2007.  In addition, KIMS will expand its capacity at its offshore facility in Bahrain, which was opened in 2004. 

As Tom Petty put it: “The waiting is the hardest part.”  While it’s likely he it wasn’t referring to the time it takes to see a Scottish doctor for medical treatment, the description still fits.  But while long waiting lines are the bane of many patients in places like Scotland—where the double-edged sword of universal healthcare can make it difficult to see a doctor in a timely manner—it’s one of the biggest reasons for the growing success of medical tourism. 

India’s Health Ministry has recently established legislation that, if passed, will mandate all private hospitals, nursing homes, and diagnostic centers in India to be registered with the government.  It’s part of not only the effort to improve the quality across the board of the medical treatment given to Indians, but also to foster the country’s medical tourism industry. 

‘Tis the gift-giving season, and there is a growing number of people who are forgoing the usual necktie or bathrobe a gift that the recipient can wear, even if they’re not wearing anything at all.  Cosmetic procedures, no longer just options for the very affluent, are gifts under more and more Christmas tress than ever before. 

The government of Gujarat, a state in northwestern India, announced its new Medical Tourism Policy.  The announcement, released by its information department, stated that the Gujarat Medical Tourism Council will be formed for planned implementation of the policy aimed at making Gujarat the “ultimate destination for people seeking medical [treatment] the world over.” 

The Philippines Board of Investments (BOI) is considering the possibility of including sunrise industries, such as medical tourism, into the country’s 2007 Investment Priorities Plan.  Sunrise industries are industries that are relatively new, but expected to be an important part of the future.  Medical tourism fits that description aptly.  

A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the costs for health insurance are taking more of a toll than ever on subscribers, absorbing a high percentage of annual incomes.  But even the high medical bills don’t necessarily translate into a clean bill of health.