Problems and prospects of medical tourism in west bengal a study with reference to private sector hospitals in kolkata

Abstract

The rising cost of healthcare coupled with limiting scope of insurance coverage and newlinelonger waiting time for treatment in developed countries vis-à-vis low cost of treatment in newlinedeveloping countries gave birth to Medical Tourism. It is, now, one of the fastest growing newlineservice sectors in the world. More than 130 countries around the world are competing for a newlinepie of this global tourism. It is generally estimated that the present global medical tourism newlinemarket is of the order of approximately US$ 40 billion with an annual growth rate of 20%. newlinePresence of world-class hospitals, skilled medical professionals, low treatment costs, cutting newlineedge technology to support medical diagnostics and medical procedures the overall high- newlineend healthcare system have strengthened India as a preferred destination for medical tourism. newlineAmong the four metros in India, Kolkata has the prospect of being growing an newlineemerging hub of medical tourism in terms of cost, quality, location, exotic natural landscape, newlineculture, heritage, etc. Lack of quality healthcare in neighbouring countries such as newlineBangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal; geographical proximity to West Bengal; a rich culture; and newlineworld-class facilities provided to the international medical tourists as well as domestic newlinetourists at an extremely affordable price have also made Kolkata as one of the best newlinedestinations for medical tourism in India. Most of the top hospitals in Kolkata have newlineaccreditation status either from JCI or NABH. Their laboratories are also accredited by newlineNABL or other accreditation body and they follow international safety and quality standards. newlineMost of the international medical tourists travel to Kolkata for taking tertiary care medical newlinefacilities; and they mainly depend on private sector hospitals though the Government of West newlineBengal provides both secondary and tertiary care medical facilities for them. newline