Medical Tourism Growing Rapidly

Over the past several years medical tourism has grown into a full-fledged travel market. Patients from all over the world... the United States, Scotland, Jordan, Kenya... are traveling to India for surgery.

It's estimated that in 2009, roughly 6 million Americans will travel abroad for some kind of surgery or medical treatment. There are many reasons to travel abroad for medical treatment, but for American and European patients the reason is usually cost. Many operations in India cost around a tenth of what the same operation costs in the United States.

Companies such as Los Angeles-based Planet Hospital are creating a niche in the service industry as medical travel planners. "We find the best possible surgeons and deliver their service to patients safely, affordably and immediately," said Rudy Rupak, president of Planet Hospital. "No one should have to choose between an operation to save their life or going bankrupt."

Planet Hospital, which works with international clients as well as Americans, books patients' travel and arranges phone interviews with potential surgeons. Patients are greeted by a company representative at the airport in the country where they've chosen to be treated; a 24-hour personal "patient concierge" is also provided, a level of service that's standard among many of the top medical travel planning companies.

While critics of medical tourism point out the frequent lack of medical care for locals, Indian doctors insist that the practice is beneficial to their country as a whole. They argue that the professional and social sides of India do not necessarily need to grow at the same time or rate, and that creating more professional jobs and increasing the nations income is as good a way to help their country as any.

Whether or not you agree with the practice, it isn't going to stop growing any time soon. Already a $60 billion a year industry, experts say medical tourism could be worth $100 billion a year by the end of 2010.