KOCHI: The aspiring metro is fast evolving into a hub of medical tourism. The standard of treatment on a par with developed countries and the lower cost draw many from the Gulf and European countries to Kochi for getting medical services.Many of the hospitals have medical tourism wing so as to make things easy for those from abroad. Cosmetic surgery, eye care, dental care and gynaecology are the main branches which attract the patients from across the globe. “Mainly patients from the West Asian countries and Africa arrive here. Cardiology, orthopaedic surgeries, gastroenterology and oncology are the most sought-after specialties here,” said Dr Girish Kumar K P of AIMS, Kochi. “The quality of treatment on a par with international standards and cheap cost are the main attractions. The cost of treatment comes to only one third of that in the developed countries,” he said. Besides foreigners, those from other states also flock to Kochi for undergoing treatment. Though most-modern treatment is available in some of the major cities in the country, the cost is comparatively high. Easy accessibility is the most important factor for the growth of tourism. Earlier, the fares from other Indian cities like Delhi were as high as the fares to destinations in South-East and the Middle-East. But the situation has changed for the good, thanks to the Open Sky Policy and the emergence of budget airlines in the country. The modern communication systems, including internet, have been a boon to health tourism. At the click of the mouse, even the people on the other side of the globe will be able to know about the international health destinations. Understanding the fact, health institutions as well as governments in many of the countries have, collectively and individually, taken steps to promote health tourism through the internet.A health tourist who looks for the place where he or she can avail of advanced medical services at affordable cost makes use of facilities like the internet. So, the hospitals which stand out in offering the medical services to health tourists design their websites after consulting IT experts. Ayurveda attracts a lot of foreigners to Kochi. “It is from Saudi, Oman, Qatar and South Africa that more patients arrive. There are Europeans as well,” said Dr Jaseela of Punarnava Ayurveda Hospital, Kochi. “Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, paralysis and mental ailments seek ayurveda treatment. For such diseases, the treatment offered by other streams of medicine are less effective,” she said.
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