The NRI community in the Gulf has promoted medical tourism to India for orthopedic surgery. People of Indian & Asian origin in Gulf countries like Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, feel safe in the hands of Indian Doctors, although Free health is available in Government hospitals. Staffing- Doctors, nurses, para-medical staff of Indian origin constitute the care providers in many of this ministry of health hospitals. Private hospitals also have the same pattern of employment; However para medical staff from Far East countries like the Phillipines is more common. The ministry hospitals are fairly well equipped for delivering reasonable care in emergencies like road traffic accidents.

Elective orthopedic surgery Indians find this hard to get at an affordable cost. The number of Outpatient days for expatriates is very much less in relation to the demands of the proportion of the population. This may be one day in a five day week. Where there is no fixed outpatient day/clinic for Indians, they have to wait for long hours to see the doctor. Ministry Waiting lists for visiting orthopedic surgeons from Europe or USA totally excludes expatriates. In some countries, the ministries of health hospitals have started charging Indians for deliveries and it will be not long before they are charged for other elective surgery as well. The health budget has no provision for the advanced orthopedic treatment of expatriates.This is reflected in the numbers of patients from countries like UAE and Oman visiting Chennai for medical tourism.

Having worked in this region, I have come across non uniform levels of care being provided to the locals versus expatriates in ministry hospitals. This is but natural. Many Indians are forced to put up with this maltreatment as the cost of private treatment is exorbitant. Health insurance provides a cushion for the affluent. However not all can afford it.

Is Orthopaedic treatment in India of excellent standards?

This is for you to judge. Indian doctors have excellent qualifications and skills like their counterparts in the UK, Australia and US. A recent article in INDIA TODAY quoted that Indian hospitals and doctors have become the health care destination for foreigners. Is it cost effective?

When you can get world class orthopedic surgery in Chennai at half the cost as in the West, or even in the Gulf, then it is certainly cost effective. For e.g.: A total knee replacement in some of the private hospitals in the Gulf costs about 50,000 UAE Dirhams (17 000 US$). The same treatment can be provided in India for half or three fourths of the cost. An ACL reconstruction can be done in Chennai for 60-70,000 rupees as opposed to $ 3500 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.