This story documents the phenomena of people who travel to India for medical treatment. Thier reasons are manifold. Patients from the U.S. cite the high cost of care especially for those who don’t have insurance. In the U.K. and canada, the issue is the wait at public health facilities. In the Middle East, interviewees note the lack of quality medical services in their countries and the difficulty in traveling to the West after the terrorist attacks on September 11. Top Indian hospitals, with their internationally trained doctors and prices that can be one-third Western fees for complex procedures are positioning themselves as the answer for this growing tribe of so called medical tourists. India’s medical prowess isn’t limited to treating patients. Doctors analyze and read x-rays from U.S. hospitals. Pathology labs collect samples from the U.K. and the Middle East much like software companies have become back-offices and developmental centers for Western clients. We found Indian hospitals must do much more to publicize their abilities and soothe patients’ uneasiness about safety and cultural differences. Indian hospitals also would benefit from certification from global standards organizations. After the story was published, Apollo Hospitals in Chennai received certification from Join Commission International, which rates U.S. hospitals.
