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While hospitals in Tiruchi are emerging as a preferred destination for medical tourism among Indian diaspora in the West and patients from neighbouring countries, more can be done to improve the current scenario, experts say. There has been a general decline in medical tourism across India in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of adequate infrastructure such as hotels and ancillary services has kept potential patients away from healthcare hubs such as Tiruchi. Patient queries from West Asia, Southeast Asia and SAARC countries have decreased in the past five years, Shibu Varkey, regional medical director, MaxiVision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals, told The Hindu. “States like Kerala have developed medical tourism in a big way, which could be a reason. The absence of high-end accommodation and flights to Tiruchi, could also have led to the downturn. Besides affordability, patients look for local ambience when they plan their medical visits abroad. Tiruchi can evolve into a major healthcare hub if the travel, hospitality and healthcare sectors collaborate,” said Dr. Varkey. “Medical tourism can be successful only if one can offer service that cannot be replicated elsewhere. For this, doctors need to keep working on the niche specialisations that are in demand throughout the world,” said T.N. Janakiraman, skull base surgeon, and managing director, Royal Pearl Hospital, Tiruchi. Dr. Janakiraman, who is known for his work in endoscopic management of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, is a specialist in diabetic skull base osteomyeletis. “We have queries from patients in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, in the domestic sector. We also have patients from African countries like Senegal and other parts of the world seeking us out for treatment in Tiruchi. In addition to this, we reach out to international patients through online consultations,” he said. Though many corporate hospitals are equipped with staff and facilities of a high calibre in the city, they are brought up short by lack of infrastructure. “We are ready to welcome patients from abroad seeking treatment for a range of ailments, but the city does not have enough facilities for long-stay visitors,” said D. Senguttavan, paediatrician and executive director, Kauvery Hospitals. “The medical sector could rope in the hospitality sector and create infrastructure that caters to medical tourists. Travel companies could look at packages that help patients in the post-operative period, such as short-term accommodation and holiday outings in local areas,” said senior physician M.S. Ashraf. The government authorities can certify hospitals and healthcare facilities that follow ethical practices, in order to avoid commercialisation, he added. Industry sources say Indian hospitals are known to be popular among foreigners for cardiology, neurology, orthopaedic joint replacement and oncology treatments. Strict norms about kidney transplantation in India have reduced medical tourism in this sector.
