It is the next big success story out of India. Medical tourism is like any leisure product where service components like airlines, hotels, travel companies, transportation, and food outlets are offered and medical treatment at the best hospitals. The medical treatment for various ailments is packaged with recuperative leisure packages at world-class tourist resorts.

Some facts of Medical Tourism in India

	An estimated 150,000 "medical tourists" visited India last year, representing a 20 per cent jump over the previous year.
	The CII-McKinsey report suggests that medical tourism could fetch as much as $2 billion by 2012, compared to an estimated $333 million currently.
	Ayurveda tourism earned RS.6000 crore last year
	A Famous Mumbai and Goa based cosmetic surgeon says his practice goes 1200 international patient last year, double the number from previous year

Areas of Medical Tourism

	Allopathic-Surgery-Mostly cardiac, spinal, cosmetic and joint replacement
	Ayurveda
	Naturopathy
	Dental-Generally No Insurance provided.

Reasons behind Medical Tourism

	International Standard Treatment in India
	Majority of Indian Doctors and Nurses abroad
	Long Waiting Period
	Cost - Most Motivating factor

Medical Tourism and Insurance

Since Medical Tourism in India is a recent phenomenon, certain aspects concerning insurance and legal aspects of treatment need to be kept in mind.

Medical tourists can also check with their insurance provider whether treatment at an internationally recognized hospital in India is covered by their policy. If not, the patient will have to bear the expense of their treatment. The cost of treatment will however be much less than the equivalent treatment in a hospital in the West.