Bangalore :Medical tourism, a market worth Rs: 6000 crore in India is a popular business for Bangalore’s many “corporate” hospitals which contribute Rs: 300 crore. Patients from across the world, the Middle East, Africa and other European countries travel to Bangalore for comparatively cheaper medical treatment that is out of reach of the common Bangalorean.
60% of these foreign patients are from Africa. However the ebola virus spread in four African countries, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and parts of Nigeria, has resulted in a 30% to 60% dip in African patients and revenue has naturally dropped. Hospitals too have cancelled their programs in these countries.
RavindraPai, senior vice president, Healthcare Services and Operations, Apollo Hospitals, said Pai said doctors too have been advised not to travel to these countries. “We had two to three training programme schedules in some of these countries, but we have cancelled all of them,” Pai said. “We have also stopped inviting patients.” In cases of dire emergency, the Indian embassy in these countries screens patients thoroughly to ensure they are not infected. The influx of patients from the Middle East too has dropped, Pai said. “We would get at least 15 to 20 cases a month for bullet and cardiac injuries from Iraq,” Pai said. “But despite the conflict, patients are not being allowed to travel because of the virus.”
A major chunk of revenue for BGS Group of hospitals located on the outskirts of the city also comes from African clientele. “We have seen a drop in the number of patients from Nigeria and Tanzania,” said Dr NitishShetty, CEO, BGS Hospitals. “There has been an overall dip of about 30 per cent in patients from international countries. In fact, the dip began last month with the stream of patients from the Middle East dwindling due to Ramzan. Most come here for trauma, neuro and orthopaedic surgeries.”
Hospitals are targeting other countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka and South East countries, but there have been difficulties. All they can do is concentrate on the domestic market for the present.
