Foreign patients inflow to local hospitals up 15%

The international marketing efforts of the super speciality hospitals such as Apollo Hospitals Group, Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (EHIRC) and Raheja Hospital are paying off as the influx of foreign patients have increased nearly 15 per cent in last one year.

"With easier visa norms for patients and better dissemination of information about Indian hospitals and their cost advantage, major private hospitals are seeing a marked increase in the inflow of foreign patients," an Indian Healthcare Federation official said.

The various information centres set up in Middle East, Africa and England have directed nearly 600 patients to India in last six months.

The numbers from neighbouring Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Burma have already crossed 7,000-8,000 across major hospitals including Sankara Nethralaya and CMC, Vellore in last six months, the official added.

Experts feel that it is the assistance/ information offices set up the corporate hospitals and various delegations to different countries which have done the trick for the hospitals who wish to tap the $3 trillion global healthcare market.

"Besides bigger groups such as Apollo Hospitals, other players such as Wockhardt Hospital, Ruby Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital and Jaslok Hospital, who have been part of the delegations to Dubai and the UK, got a good exposure internationally," Vishal Bali, executive director of Wockhardt said.

Apollo Hospitals has been the most sought after medical destination for international patients. In last eight years, the hospital has treated around 108,600 patients.

"Since the beginning of this year, the number has been hovering around 40,000 patients which shows a considerable increase over last two years. But, we are still behind the countries such as Bangkok (Bumrangrad Hospital) and Jordan. We target an increase of 100 per cent in foreign patients in next 2-3 years," Prathap C Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospital Group said.

"As of now, the main traffic is from Bangladesh which is about 35,000 patients. Also, there has been an increase of patients from Afro-Asian countries after we set up offices in Nigeria. But, we would like more patients from European countries particularly from the UK where there is a long queue under the National Health Service (NHS) programme," Reddy said.

Apollo Hospitals is setting up another information centre in London next month and has plans of setting up similar facilities in Poland.

EHIRC has also seen a considerable increase in the number of patients, particularly from the UK and has treated around 14 patients from that country since January which was just 7-8 patients last year.

"The number will certainly go up by the end of this year. We have worked out special packages for foreign patients and have tied up with BUPA, an insurance company which will help us in attracting more patients from Europe," Anil Maini, marketing head, EHIRC said.

But, even as foreign patients are making a beeline to Indian hospitals, there are hurdles such as health policy of European nations which could be a dampener for Indian hospitals.

"The policies such as allowing patients under NHS to get treated in countries within three hours of flying distance is a deterrent. The governments will have to look into such anomalies," Reddy added.