Global Treatment Services Pvt. Ltd.

Global Treatment Services

Kidney Transplantation: Procedure, Images

About Kidney Transplantation

Renal transplant or Kidney transplant, as it is commonly known, refers to the transfer of kidney from a healthy person to a patient whose kidneys have lost the capability of performing the essential process of filtration. There are two types of kidney transplantation: deceased-donor and living-donor. Among these, living-donor transplantation can be further sub categorized as related and non-related kidney transplants.
Who is eligible for Kidney Transplant?

At multispeciality hospital anyone who is identified with kidney or renal failure is eligible for kidney transplant. Stage 4 is the highest level (the near end-stage) of a kidney patient. Diabetic people whose average insulin requirement per day is more than 1 unit/kg of their body weight and obese people with a BMI of greater than 30 with renal complications are also eligible to undergo kidney transplantation.
What are the benefits?

A successful kidney or renal transplant gives the patient a greater stamina, strength and energy and helps restores his or her life back to normal. People who were on dialysis prior to kidney transplantation will be able to enjoy a greater level of freedom and comfort post kidney transplant. Moreover renal transplantation helps stabilize anemia and blood pressure to a great extent.
Procedure

The kidney transplant procedure entails replacing a patient’s damaged kidney by a donor’s healthy kidney. The healthy kidney in placed on either the left or right side of the patient’s abdomen depending on the requirements. Our doctors then connect the kidneys to the neighboring blood vessels by means of surgical procedures. The right placement of kidney ensures smooth functioning of the urinary bladder and the nearby blood vessels. Also the veins and arteries are connected appropriately via surgical procedures. The old kidney is removed only when it’s overly damaged. If it’s able to perform atleast 20% of its functions, it will be retained.
Preparation

Here we take the patient through a detailed medical evaluation which involves a thorough physical examination, EKG, and an X-ray of the chest. Blood tests are to be done for Anemia and to determine if there is any existence of viral diseases like AIDS or hepatitis. In addition to these, the patient will also be tested for cardiac problems and cancer diseases.
Pre surgery requirements

Our doctors evaluate the test reports of all the aforementioned tests and assess the patient’s body conditions. Not only that the donor (the person who donates his or her kidney) will be also be required to take up most of the aforementioned tests. We match the test results and see if the donor’s kidney will suit the recipient or not. Other requirements that will be looked into involve the age and blood group of the donor and the recipient.
Post operations

Once the kidney transplant is accomplished, the patient will be shifted to the ICU where he or she will be under intense care for about 1-2 weeks. Upon recovery, the patient will be discharged from the hospital. We will prescribe drugs and natural diet for the next few weeks or months to ensure that patient’s immunity strengthens post surgery. Also follow-ups visits to our kidney transplant department will be required.
Package

There are various packages to choose from. To get the exact details of the kidney transplant charges or packages we suggest you schedule an appointment with our expert kidney transplant doctors.
Local legal requirements

It’s important that the donor and recipient understand the risks and benefits involved in kidney transplant. Our doctors advice them on the right procedures that are to be followed during the entire kidney transplant process. The donor and recipients are required to sign an agreement an ‘Organ transplant agreement’ which is formulated by the Government of India. All the rules and regulations will be given in detail on the agreement. And our doctors are available to clear all your queries regarding the same.

Physiatry & Rehabilitation (PMR) : Treatment, description

About Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR)

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is also known as Physiatry or Rehabilitation Medicine. This branch of medicine aims to restore and enhance functional abilities and Quality of life of those with physical impairments or disabilities.The specialty emphasizes on prevention,diagnosis and treatment of clinical conditions that lead to limitations in function. The conventional medical approach aims “adding years to life” and this specialty with its functional model accomplishes “adding life to years”.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation(PMR) provides comprehensive multi-disciplinary rehabilitation program for all age groups . Our unique and customized programs are designed to promote or enhance recovery,health and wellness that fit each patient’s needs.It helps them to reach their fullest potential while enhancing their overall quality of life upon return to community. Emphasis is on minimizing pain and suffering, maximizing functional outcome in areas of mobility, self care, communication, cognition and psychosocial adjustment for patients.

Our Sevices

Inpatient Care
Outpatient Care
Neurological Rehabilitation Unit
Pain and MusculoskeletalRehabilitation Unit
Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit
Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Dedicated Rehabilitation Ward
Home Care-Physiotherapy Services

Our programmes are patient centric,affordable and designed with focus on patient comfort and convenience in the most patient-friendly atmosphere.

Who We can Help?

We work with individuals who are struggling to deal with specific functional problems enumerated below,incorporating their families and caretakers for the same.

Limitation faced due to pain may include:

Difficult in walking,climbing stairs,getting out of bed
Difficult in Swallowing
Loss of coordination and balance
Problems with speech or language
Memory deficits or judgment difficulties
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Problems returning to work or everyday routine in the community

The PMR Team

Our team comprises of dynamic multi-disciplinary professionals committed to helping each patient achieve maximum living potential.The team,lead by a physiatrist includes Physical therapists,occupational therapists,speech & language pathologists,rehabilitation nurses,dieticians,medical social workers and clinical psychologists.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation(PMR) Physicians or Physiatrists provide comprehensive and individualized rehabilitation program to patients after detailed clinical assessment keeping in consideration of pre-morbid functional status as well as existing co-morbidities
Physical Therapy to help restore maximum physical function enabling the individual to return to an active life as quickly as possible
Speech Therapy to improve swallowing,communication and cognitive abilities to build a patient’s confidence and independent behavior.

Physiotherapy

Physical therapists manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical and functional abilities .They help in restoring function,improve mobility,relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or diseases.A physiotherapist examines the patient to establish his/her sensed needs focusing on strength,flexibility,sitting and standing balance,coordination and build a treatment plan using exercise regime,techniques and modalities.

Services Available

Electrotherapy modalities like Electrical Stimulation,Short waveDiathermy(SWD),ultrasound Therapy(UST),Infra Red Therapy,Laser Therapy,Lympha press,pain relief modalities like Interferential therapy(IFT),Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator(TENS),Inter X,Cervical and Lumbar Traction
Joint and Soft-tissue Mobilization
Balance and Coordination Training
Core Body Strength Training
Body Weight Support Treadmill Training for Functional Mobility and Gait Training
Ergonomics,Body Mechanics and Energy Conservation Training
Neuromuscular Re-education
Pulmonary and Cardiac Therapy
Sports specific therapy
Therapeutic Exercises
Lymphedema Management
Myofascial Release

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists specialize in restoring independence in patients of all ages who exhibit impairments in physical,psychological or cognitive function.A comprehensive assessment helps our therapists to develop individualized plans of care that enable a patient to systematically overcome barriers in social and functional participation.We provide a thorough analysis of daily living activities and share recommendations to assist patients in resuming life roles.

Occupational Therapy focuses on the performance of functional activities such as self-care,functional mobility,home management,perception,cognition and psychosocial functioning.The occupational therapist specializes in managing splinting and other adaptive equipments for upper extremity function,hand injuries and pediatric rehabilitation.Occupational therapist may employ motor retraining,fine motor coordination and dexterity activates,skill-building,activates of daily living training,Splinting,assertive communication techniques,wheelchair assessments and modifications,goal-setting & problem solving strategies,home management tasks,prevocational skills,self-care and transfer training,sensory-integration techniques, Stress-management and coping strategies,time-management methods,etc.

They assist in environment modifications such as adapted commode,tub seats,grab bars,shower chairs,non-skid flooring,ramps and handrails,wheelchair seating and positioning aids.

Speech and Language Pathology

Speech and Language Pathology focuses on evaluation and treatment of a variety of communication,cognitive and swallowing disorders in acute Inpatient and Outpatient setting for all ages.These are related to neurological or organic conditions an injuries as well as development delays.Programmes include Neurological Rehabilitation for Dysarthria,Aphasia,Cognition,Dysphagia,Voice Disorders,Fluency disorders,Memory etc.

A speech therapist provides specialized Oral Myofunctional Therapy to correct an imbalance between the tongue and facial muscles used at rest and for swallowing.

Speech language pathologists are trained to treat disorders of speech,language,cognition,or motor,voice,swallowing and hearing.They help to restore cognitive,memory,speech,language and swallowing skills.

Who can visit?

Individuals Suffering from any medical condition that is limiting their physical function and impairing their quality of life can visit our department,Our areas of clinical expertise include:

Neurological Rehabilitation: Stroke,Head Injury,Spinal Cord Injury,Guillain Barre Syndrome,Myelopathy,Myopathies,Parkinson’s Disease,Motor Neuron Disease,Movement Disorders,Balance & Coordination Disorders,Cognitive Disorders,etc.
Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: Neck & Back pain spondylosis,disc prolapse,etc.Frozen Shoulder ,knee pain Osteoarthritis,Bursitis,ligament injuries.Sports injuries like AnkleSprain,Rotator cuff tears,Impingement syndrome,Rehabilitation following AGL repair,hip/knee replacement, Osteoporosis,Deconditioning due to chronic Illness,Rheumatological disorders,Mobilization following surgery,fractures,polytrauma.
Pediatric Rehabilitation: This inter-disciplinary programme is for infants and childern.Services are provided in the treatment of physical disabilities,developmental delay,congenital deformities,n euro-sensory impairments,orthopedic injuries and communication disorders.Our pediatric therapists have special training in the areas of development hand function,Neuro-Development Treatment (NDT),handwriting,proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation,sensory integration .Services are available for conditions like:Cerebral Palsy,Development Disorders,Autism,pre-maturity,Attention Deficit Disorder, Brain Injury,Specific Learning Disorders,Visual Perceptual Difficulties,Down’s syndrome,Feeding Problems,Hearing Impairments,Speech Delay,Multiple Disabilities,etc.
Geriatic Rehabilitation: A Balance and coordination issues,Fall risk assessment,Fall Prevention Programme .This programme will help improve balance,endurance,muscle strength and coordination so that they can perform day-to-day tasks comfortably thereby improving quality of life.
Cardio Pulmonary Rehabilitation: This aims to prevent and minimize impairments secondary to cardiac or pulmonary illnesses and improve fitness & the quality of life of patient.Individualized rehab programme which cover exercise schedule,education and lifestyle modification are designed based on the needs and abilities of patients.Services are available for condition like:Post Myocardial infarction,Post CABG,Stable angina,Valvular heart diseases,At risk cardiac patients,Obstructive/restrictive airway disease,etc.
Chronic Pain Management: Our holistic rehab approach including counseling,interventional pain procedures and therapeutic modalities helps the patients to overcome chronic pain syndromes like Fibromyalgia,Myofascial pain syndrome,Repetitive strain injuries,Failed Back syndrome,plantar fasciitis,Tendo-Achillits,Retrocalcaneal bursitis(Heel pain),etc.
Cancer Rehabilitation: Lymphedema management,Endurance training,Pain management etc.
Women’s Health Issues: Ante natal and post natal exercise programmes,Pelvic Pain Management,Urinary Incontinence,Pre or Post natal Postural/Musculoskeletal pain.
Vestibular/Balance Disorders Evaluation and Treatment: Vestibular Rehabilitation serves patients with dizziness and other related balance problems.It consists of a comprehensive evaluation and a stage by stage progressive treatment plan to alleviate the symptoms,identity possible triggers and minimize recurrence.
Amptuee Rehabilitation: Pre amputation assessment and counselling,prescription and checkout of prosthesis and prosthesis related musculoskeletal problems.
Fitness Programme Prescription: For those planning to join Gym.
Ergonomics /Onsite Workstations Evaluations: Ergonomics Awareness and Training to prevent Repetitive Strain Injury(RSI) and other Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders(WRMSDs).

Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection(TAPVC): Images, Procedure

Single ventricle defects :

Shortly after birth, the baby will be given an injection of medication called prostaglandin. This will encourage the mixing of oxygen-rich blood with oxygen-poor blood. The condition will then need to be treated using a three-stage surgical procedure.

Tetralogy of Fallot :

Tetralogy of Fallot is treated using surgery. If the baby is born with severe symptoms, surgery may be recommended soon after birth.
If the symptoms are less severe, surgery will usually be carried out when the child is three to six months old.

During the operation, the surgeon will close the hole in the heart and open up the narrowing in the pulmonary valve.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection :

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is treated with surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon will reconnect the abnormally positioned veins into the right position in the left atrium.

Once the baby’s health has stabilised, it is likely surgery will be recommended. This should ideally be carried out during the first month of the baby’s life. A surgical technique called arterial switch is used. This involves detaching the arteries and reattaching them in the correct position.

Truncus arteriosus :

Surgery is used to treat truncus arteriosus. This is usually carried out within a few weeks after birth.
The abnormal blood vessel will be split in two to create two new blood vessels, and each one will be reconnected in the correct position..

Surface Brain Tumor Surgery: Images, Procedure

Meningiomas or surface brain tumors are the second most common primary tumors affecting the central nervous system. Meningiomas grow from cells of the middle layer of the meninges (the three membranes enveloping and protecting the brain and spinal cord). They often are found at the surface of the brain near the top of the head, at the base of the skull, and along the spinal cord.

Symptoms

Meningiomas grow very slowly and conform to the space around them, often going undetected for years. However, this also means they may grow to be very large before causing any noticeable symptoms. Symptoms eventually occur when a tumor puts pressure on brain tissue or other structures like the optic nerve (which controls sight) or important veins that allow blood to flow within the brain.

Common symptoms include:

Headache
Nausea and/or vomiting
Seizures
Muscle weakness
Loss of movement or sensation in a specific area
Confusion
Changes in mood and sleep
Vision problems like blurriness or double-vision
Hearing loss
Slurred speech

Diagnosis

Imaging Studies
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Neurovascular Angiography

Ventricular Septal Defects: Images, Procedures

Septal defects

The treatment of ventricular and atrial septal defects depends very much on the size of the hole. No treatment will be required if your child has a small septal defect that does not cause any symptoms or stretch on the heart

For larger ventricular septal defect, surgery is usually recommended to close the hole.

If there is a large atrial septal defect, this can be closed with an umbrella device inserted with a catheter. If the defect is too big or not suitable for the umbrella, surgery may be needed to close the hole.

Single ventricle defects

Shortly after birth, the baby will be given an injection of medication called prostaglandin. This will encourage the mixing of oxygen-rich blood with oxygen-poor blood. The condition will then need to be treated using a three-stage surgical procedure.

Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is treated using surgery. If the baby is born with severe symptoms, surgery may be recommended soon after birth.
If the symptoms are less severe, surgery will usually be carried out when the child is three to six months old.

During the operation, the surgeon will close the hole in the heart and open up the narrowing in the pulmonary valve.
Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is treated with surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon will reconnect the abnormally positioned veins into the right position in the left atrium.

Once the baby’s health has stabilised, it is likely surgery will be recommended. This should ideally be carried out during the first month of the baby’s life. A surgical technique called arterial switch is used. This involves detaching the arteries and reattaching them in the correct position.

Truncus arteriosus

Surgery is used to treat truncus arteriosus. This is usually carried out within a few weeks after birth.
The abnormal blood vessel will be split in two to create two new blood vessels, and each one will be reconnected in the correct position..

Congenital Heart Diseases: Images, Procedures

Congenital heart disease is a general term for a range of birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart. The term congenital means the condition is present at birth.

Why it happens?

In most cases, no obvious cause of congenital heart disease is identified. However, there are some things known to increase the risk of the condition, including:

Down’s syndrome – a genetic disorder that affects a baby’s normal physical development and causes learning difficulties
He mother having certain infections, such as rubella, during pregnancy
The mother having poorly controlled type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes

Types of congenital heart disease

There are many types of congenital heart disease. Some of the more common defects include:

Septal defects
Coarctation of the aorta
Pulmonary valve stenosis
Transposition of the great arteries

Treating congenital heart disease

The treatment for congenital heart disease usually depends on the defect you or your child has.
Modern surgical techniques can often restore most or all of the heart’s normal function, and nowadays about 80% of children with congenital heart disease will survive into adulthood.
Symptoms of congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease can have a range of symptoms, as the condition refers to several different types of heart defect.

General symptoms of congenital heart disease can include:

excessive sweating
extreme tiredness and fatigue
poor feeding
rapid heartbeat
rapid breathing
shortness of breath
Chest pain
Ablue tinge to the skin (cyanosis)

In more severe cases, these problems may develop shortly after birth. However, symptoms sometimes don’t develop until the teenage or early adulthood.

Complications

Children and adults with congenital heart disease can also develop a range of further problems, such as:

problems with growth and development
repeated respiratory tract infections (RTIs)
heart infection (endocarditis)
pulmonary hypertension
heart failure

Treatment
Aortic valve stenosis

If treatment is required, a procedure called a balloon valvuloplasty is often the recommended treatment option.

During this procedure a small tube (catheter) is passed through the blood vessels to the site of the narrowed valve. A balloon attached to the catheter is inflated, which helps widen the valve and relieve any blockage in blood flow.

If balloon valvuloplasty is ineffective or unsuitable, it is usually necessary to remove and replace the valve using open heart surgery.

Coarctation of the aorta

In less serious form of coarctation of the aorta in later life, the main goal of treatment will be to control their high blood pressure. This will usually involve using a combination of diet, exercise and, in some cases, medication.

In more serious form of coarctation of the aorta that develops shortly after birth, surgery to restore the flow of blood through the aorta is usually recommended.

Ebstein’s anomaly

If Ebstein’s anomaly is mild, it does not require treatment. If the valve is very leaky, surgery to repair the abnormal tricuspid valve is usually recommended.

Patent ductus arteriosus

Many cases of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) can be treated with medication shortly after birth.If PDA does not close with medication, the duct may be sealed with a coil or plug, which is implanted using a catheter.

Pulmonary valve stenosis

Mild pulmonary valve stenosis does not require treatment as it does not cause any symptoms or problems.More severe cases of pulmonary valve stenosis usually require treatment

As with aortic valve stenosis, the main treatment for pulmonary valve stenosis is a balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. However, if this is ineffective or the valve is not suitable for this treatment, surgery may be needed to open the valve (valvotomy).

Pulmonary Valve Stenosis: Images, Procedure

Valve Surgeries

The heart has four chambers. There are two small chambers at the top of the heart called atria, and two larger chambers at the bottom called ventricles.

Each ventricle has two valves:

One valve controls the blood flowing into the ventricle
The other valve controls the blood flowing out of the ventricle

Each valve is made up of flaps, also called leaflets or cusps. These flaps open and close, acting as one-way gates for the blood to flow through.

Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

Pulmonary valve stenosis is a heart valve disorder in which outflow of blood from the right ventricle of the heart is obstructed at the level of the pulmonic valve. This results in the reduction of flow of blood to the lungs. Valvular pulmonic stenosis accounts for 80% of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction

Signs and symptoms

Pulmonary valve stenosis signs and symptoms may include:

Heart murmur — an abnormal whooshing sound heard using a stethoscope, caused by turbulent blood flow
Shortness of breath, especially during exertion
Chest pain
Loss of consciousness (fainting)
Fatigue
Palpitations

Evaluation

The initial evaluation of pulmonary valve stenosis involves echocardiography.
Treatment

Valve replacement or surgical repair (depending upon whether the stenosis is in the valve or vessel) may be indicated. If the valve stenosis is of congenital origin, balloon valvuloplasty is another option, depending on the case..

Mitral Valve Surgery(MVR): Images, Procedure

Valve Surgeries

The heart has four chambers. There are two small chambers at the top of the heart called atria, and two larger chambers at the bottom called ventricles.

Each ventricle has two valves:

One valve controls the blood flowing into the ventricle
The other valve controls the blood flowing out of the ventricle

Each valve is made up of flaps, also called leaflets or cusps. These flaps open and close, acting as one-way gates for the blood to flow through.

Mitral Valve Surgery

The mitral valve (also called the bicuspid valve) separates the upper left heart chamber from the lower left heart chamber, and helps control blood flow through the heart.

Problems with the mitral valve can make the heart less efficient at pumping blood around the body. Severe problems can lead to heart failure if the valve is not surgically repaired or replaced.
Mitral valve problems

Common mitral valve problems are:

mitral regurgitation, or backflow of blood
mitral valve prolapse, where the valve collapses (often leading to regurgitation)
mitral stenosis, where the valve doesn’t open as wide as it should, restricting blood flow

Mitral valve operations

The most common procedures are:

mitral valve repair surgery
mitral valve replacement surgery
percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty (used to treat mitral stenosis)

Aortic Valve Surgery(AVR): Images, description

Valve Surgeries

The heart has four chambers. There are two small chambers at the top of the heart called atria, and two larger chambers at the bottom called ventricles.

Each ventricle has two valves:

One valve controls the blood flowing into the ventricle
The other valve controls the blood flowing out of the ventricle

Each valve is made up of flaps, also called leaflets or cusps. These flaps open and close, acting as one-way gates for the blood to flow through.
Aortic valve surgery

The aortic valve controls the flow of blood out of the left ventricle of the heart to the body’s main artery (the aorta). From the aorta, the blood flows to the rest of the body.The aortic valve opens to allow blood to flow from the heart out to the rest of your body. It then closes to stop any blood leaking back into the heart.

Illustration of aortic valve replacement

Aorta
Aortic Valve
Plastic repair of valve
Mitral valve

Causes for the aortic valve surgery

The aortic valve may need to be replaced for two reasons:

Narrowing of the valve (aortic stenosis)
Leaking of the valve (aortic regurgitation)

Procedure

During surgery, a cut is made in the chest to access the heart. The heart is then stopped and a heart-lung bypass machine is used to take over the circulation during the operation. The aortic valve is removed and replaced with an artificial valve (prosthesis). The heart is then started again and the incision in the chest is closed.

There are two main types of replacement valve:

Mechanical valves
Biological valves

Risks of valve replacement

Rare complications following aortic valve replacement are:

Infection
Clotting
Stroke
The valve may wear out or become damaged
Irregular heart beat (arrhythmia)

Medical Tourism Comes Home Through Operation India

NEW DELHI: India is fast becoming a popular medical tourism destination. Out of the 41,000 Iraqi tourists who visited the country in 2013, over 53 per cent came for medical treatment. Similarly, 45 per cent of Afghanis and 45 per cent of Nigerians came for similar reasons. Between 2009 and 2013, the number of foreign tourists coming to India for medical purposes doubled.

Encouraged by the response of foreign tourists visiting India for world-class medical treatment available here at much lower rates than abroad, the Indian government is setting up a separate body for medical tourism.

“We will soon be setting up a separate department in the ministry (of health) to act as coordinating office to provide for the medical tourists coming to India. It would include ministry officials and stakeholders like those from hospitals, hospitality industry, tour operators,” Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma told The Sunday Standard. He said the announcement in this regard would be made in the next few days.

“India is an affordable destination for people looking for best medical facilities at 1/8 cost of those available in some advanced countries. Even in countries like USA and England, Indian doctors are considered the best,” Sharma added. A Lok Sabha MP from Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida), Sharma is a trained doctor and chairman of Kailash Health Care, which runs a chain of super- and multi-speciality hospitals.

The celebration of International Yoga Day has brought the focus on the Indian system of medicine, particularly the alternative stream, which includes ayurveda and holistic wellness. Sharma says the Ministry of AYUSH and Health, too, would partner in the new initiative planned by his ministry.

Globally, medical value travel (MVT) is a $10.5 billion industry estimated to grow to $32.5 billion over the next five years at compound annual growth rate of 17.9 per cent. India certainly wants a lion’s share in this pie.

But India faces competition from better organised rivals. “Countries like USA, Turkey, Japan or smaller ones like Jordan, Croatia, Costa Rica and Malaysia are extremely organised in promoting themselves for medical travel,” says a recently released report by global consultancy firm KPMG. However, in contrast, India is fragmented in its approach as only individual hospitals have been promoting themselves as the hospital destinations,” the report stated.

In 2012, India received 1.7 lakh foreign tourists who came here for medical treatment, while Thailand received 25.30 lakh medical tourists, thus indicating what a better-planned approach can do. Popular medical tourism destinations in India are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, New Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

In a recent statement, Sharma said that the wellness industry was growing by 30 per cent in India. “No other sector is growing at a rate of 30 per cent.” He added, “Medical visa on ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) is already being provided in SAARC countries and would soon be extended further.”

During 2009, the number of foreign tourists was a little more than 51 lakh, out of which 2.2 per cent came for medical treatment. But by 2013, as medical treatment in India got more advanced and cheaper, the foreign tourist arrivals increased to around 70 lakh. Of this, 3.4 per cent visit for medical purposes.

There has been an influx of tourists from countries such as Iraq (53.5 per cent), Nigeria (42.4 per cent), Afghanistan (45.3 per cent) and Maldives (50.1 per cent), coming to India for medical purposes.