Do Gulf NRI’s promote medical tourism to India?

People of Indian and Asian origin living in the UAE promote medical tourism to India for orthopedic surgery despite the availability of free health care in Government hospitals in UAE.

Why India for orthopedic surgery? Top 3 reasons

First of all Indian doctors are exceptionally qualified and have the expertise and excellence like their counterparts in the US, UK, Australia. The latest article in "INDIA TODAY" cited that Indian hospitals have become the health care haven for foreigners.

Secondly, orthopedic surgery is cost effective in India

You can be assured of world class orthopedic surgery in Chennai at half the cost as in the Gulf or West,

For e.g.:

Cost of total knee replacement surgery in private hospitals in the Gulf = 50,000 UAE Dirhams (17 000 US$).

The same treatment in India would cost just half or three fourths of the cost.

An ACL reconstruction surgery cost is = $ 3500 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

In Chennai ACL reconstruction surgery cost is just 60-70,000 rupees

Thirdly the staffing in government hospitals is moderately equipped only for rendering medical care in emergencies like road traffic accidents.

Other reasons

• There is no fixed outpatient day/clinic for Indians; they have to wait for long hours to see the doctor. Even visiting doctors from USA and Europe totally exclude Indians and other expatriates. 

• Expatriates are also denied proper health care when compared to the natives in ministry hospitals. As the cost of private treatment is exorbitant many Indians are forced to put up with this mistreatment

• There is no provision for advanced orthopedic treatment for expatriates in the health budget.

• Health insurance costs are also very high and not all can afford it.

          Hence India has become a haven for orthopedic surgery for Gulf NRI’s