Computerized Medical Technology Enhances Medical Value Travel to India

Health and Wellness Tourism a Must

As increased affluence leads to the spread of lifestyle diseases (stress, back pain, etc) requiring invasive surgery, the number of Westerners queuing up for such procedures has increased.  Not all of them, however, are financially prepared to bear the burden of expensive medical costs with rising costs posing a major problem in health care in developed countries.  Many seek the best value for their money and resort to medical value travel to countries like India, a recognized health and wellness tourism destination. 
 

Arthroplasty and Medical Value Travel

Arthroplasty is an orthopedic surgery performed to replace an arthritic or dysfunctional joint surface with another alternative to relieve pain and restore the joint’s function.  One of the most common procedures among tourists who choose medical value travel to India is knee replacement surgery or total knee arthroplasty. This is an expensive procedure in countries like the United States and the UK, especially with the problem of rising costs in health care.  

To boost the country’s health and wellness tourism sector, Indian doctors at specialty hospitals offering medical value travel have put their heads together to enhance the procedure.  Doctors from Apollo Hospital in New Delhi and the Orthopedic Doctors’ Association of Chandigarh have discussed developments in the field of computer navigated knee arthroplasty.  This particular procedure allows surgeons to operate with greater accuracy through smaller incisions.  The procedure also facilitates a shorter post-op recovery time.   

According to Dr. Rajeev K. Sharma of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi who was also part of the team that pioneered computer navigated hip and joint arthroplasty, “The surgery is done through computer navigation, although it is not exactly knee replacement. It is somewhat similar to capping the tooth.” The computer navigated surgery costs around Rs 1.70 lakh.  Once perfected, it will be another plus for the country’s health and wellness tourism industry and is expected to counter the problem of rising costs in health care the world over. 

Source:  “New Knee Surgery Techniques Discussed,” Home and Around, February 5, 2007