Aurangabad :
The availability of super-speciality medical services is drawing more and more foreigners at city hospitals, giving a boost to the medical tourism sector. The latest patient was from Yemen, who underwent a coronary angioplasty at a super-speciality hospital in the city.
Zubaree Mohammad, mayor of Aden, underwent the operation a couple of days back at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Aurangabad. He has now been discharged and is planning to visit the world heritage sites of Ajanta, Ellora on Friday. He is likely to fly back to Aden by this weekend.
Mohammad told TOI he had done extensive search over the internet to check the medical treatment and facilities available at various hospitals in India, before selecting the medical institute in Aurangabad. “I realised that I would not only get quality treatment on par with other countries but it was more economical here compared to US or other countries,” he said.
MGM hospital chief executive officer Pravin Suryawanshi said Mohammad underwent surgery for Hemorrhoids. During his hospitalisation, cardiologist Afzal Noor Khan performed the cardiac evaluation along with coronary angiogram, which revealed he was also suffering from coronary artery disease.
“Coronary angioplasty was performed using the latest technology and an absorbable stent was inserted in the narrowed artery. This stent will dissolve in a span of two years,” said Khan.
The MGM hospital is among the many medical institutes in the city that have received patients from across the world for the modern and affordable health services.
“In Aurangabad, the charges of medical facilities are very economical when compared to metro cities. If a laparoscopic gall bladder removal surgery had to be done, it costs Rs one lakh in Mumbai, in Pune Rs 50,000-60,000 and in Aurangabad it costs just Rs 35, 000,” said Suryavanshi.
A few months back, a professional National Basketball Association (NBA) player flew down from USA to a city hospital to get a knee surgery done. The player from Texas approached joint replacement surgeon Shivkumar Santpure at Kamalnayan Bajaj hospital. The treatment cost him one fourth that of USA, including the travel costs.
Santpure has treated as many as 200 patients from the Middle East and Africa. “At Aurangabad, you receive affordable orthopaedic surgery and treatment at a world-class healthcare facility. The hospital has expert doctors and patient-friendly staff with state-of-art infrastructure.”
“The hospital provides them a range of accommodation packages that include accommodation, certain meals, transportation to airport and medical with assistance and support, from which they can choose. Moreover, during their stay in Aurangabad, we help them make the most of their trip by introducing them to suitable sight-seeing and tourism options,” he said.
Agreeing that medical tourism is picking up in the city, “connectivity is a big challenge,” said administrator of Seth Nandlal Dhoot hospital, Himanshu Gupta (dental surgeon).
“In last one year, we have treated and operated upon at least 30 foreign patients,” said Gupta.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Aurangabad / by Ranjana Diggikar, TNN / March 21st, 2014
