Treatment Information

India as a Health Care Destination

India has become the destination of choice for medical travelers from developed countries seeking complex out-of-pocket medical procedures. This includes the estimated 46 Million Americans that have no health insurance coverage. According to McKinsey & Company, 500,000 foreigners traveled to India for medical procedures in 2005. As India’s reputation as a global health care provider grows, the number of patients traveling to India for medical procedures is estimated to have now reached 1,000,000 patients per year and is projected to continue to grow at a rate of 30% per year.

India has a highly educated workforce, with two million college graduates a year, all of whom speak English. This highly educated workforce has attracted many international high tech companies to India including HP, Dell, IBM, Accenture, Intel, Google and Cisco. “We believe that India is the hub for the world where the Information and Communications Technology sector is concerned,” said Mr. Wim Elfrink, Chief Globalization Officer for Cisco Systems.

India’s top-rated education system provides an estimated 30,000 doctors and nurses each year. The Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is an American body which is responsible for certifying physicians educated abroad are educated at medical schools that are equivalent to those of the United States. Certification by it is mandatory requirement for medical licensure in US. India has more medical schools certified by ECFMG than any other country in the world.

India is the only country in the developing world that has widespread English fluency across its population, particularly among the well educated. This has not only fueled India’s growth in the call center industry, but in the medical travel industry, as well.

India has one of the largest pharmaceutical industries in the world, exporting to 180 countries around the globe. It is the largest exporter of generic medicines in the world.

Relevant Links

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research

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