‘City can become medical tourism hub’
NEEDED Travel connectivity and stay facility as per budget. With focus on aesthetics and hygiene, more patients, including foreigners, can be attracted, say experts
LUCKNOW: The state capital, which is taking rapid strides in health care with advanced diagnostics and day care surgeries, has the potential to become a medical tourism hub, say experts.
Cost effective medical facilities and human resources are congenial for medical tourism here. Doctors say an integrated approach in which the government and private players come together to achieve a common goal – boosting tourism via health care – will fulfil the purpose.
“Superspeciality surgical disciplines such as cardiac surgeries, kidney transplant, bariatric surgery and joint replacement offer best options in Lucknow,” said Dr Sandeep Kapoor, director, Healthcity Trauma Centre and Superspeciality Hospital.
“A large number of patients are coming here every year from outside Uttar Pradesh for joint replacement and other surgeries,” he said.
At present, the patients who come from outside UP for treatment are motivated by their relatives who have had treatment under a particular doctor or those who met the doctor in a medical conference and were convinced about their abilities. But the number of such patients is negligible and they do not opt for tour packages.
What is required is travel connectivity and stay facilities in all budget slabs. Statistically, if Lucknow had 100 good hospitals conducting major surgeries and half of the patients were on medical tourism, they should be connected to good and hassle-free travel facilities that would also bring them back on time for follow up, said Dr Kapoor.
“Travelling is safe in Uttar Pradesh and this can be the USP for attracting patients from foreign countries,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, founder, Aastha Hospice.
Experts said the integration of government and private facilities was a must as some things (both medical and travel) could be ensured by the government. They said focus should be on aesthetics, hygiene, kitchen services and nursing by the hospitals to attract patients from foreign countries and social workers and relationship managers having command over different languages should be employed.
“Good quality and cheap nursing care along with maid service is available in Lucknow. Also many people wish to associate with spirituality which can be a good option,” said Dr Shukla.
HOW IT CAN BE MADE POSSIBLE
Doctors said integration of travel with medical facilities and chalking out tour packages as per the medical need of patients would make things easy.
“If the gap between operation and first follow up is after 15 days, a 5-day tour plan will be ideal. This will enable the patient to stay in Lucknow after being discharged and even go for a small tour before leaving the city,” said Dr Adarsh Kumar, a plastic surgeon.
COST-WISE IT IS COMFORTABLE
Treatment in Lucknow is costeffective. A surgery that will cost ₹ 2.5 lakh in New Delhi is done for less than two lakh here.
This gives a good reason for tourism along with treatment. “The cost that will be spent only on treatment in New Delhi can include tourism in Lucknow, without compromising on quality of treatment,” said Dr Anoop Agrawal, secretary, Lucknow Nursing Home Owners’ Association.