Japan the new attraction for Medical Tourists

Japan may soon be one of the top medical tourism destinations in the world. People behind the medical and health care industry are very committed towards the growth of medical tourism in the country also known as "Land of the Rising Sun".

Japan is already a top tourist’s destination and given the fact the country offers great quality medical care facilities. In the recent past Japan has received majority of medical tourists from Asia and this is the main reason the Japanese government is taking some positive steps to promote the medical tourism in Japan and attract tourists for medical treatment in Japan.  Heavy inflow of medical tourists in other Asian countries like India, Thailand, and Singapore etc is also the main reason that Japan Government is serious about promoting medical tourism in the country.

Steps taken by Japan Government to promote medical tourism

Japanese government has already taken some steps that are need to attract people t chose Japan while considering health care r medical treatment abroad. Here are some main steps taken:

• Flexible Visa rules for medical tourists:  Time of medical travelers visa has been extended double the normal traveler visa i.e. anyone visiting the country for medical purpose can stay in the country for six month to get treatment
• Certification & Accreditation of hospitals and clinics: This is a clever and planned step I’d say. Since quality of medical care and hygiene is the main concern among the patients. If hospitals and clinics are certified by the government or a certifying body that would gain the confidence f medical tourists.
• Online Marketing: Launching of website and promotion over search engines and social networks is being done heavily.
• Medical Tourism Packages: Packages always help; various medical packages have been developed to attract people for treatment in Japan.
• Promote English Language
• Availability of Translators at hospital
• Provide accommodation in hospital with non-Japanese & vegetarian food etc.
• Target 2020: Japan has set the target to be the number one medical tourism destination by the year 2020 with more than 400,000
• Limit raised for medical schools: Previously  only a few students can get themselves enrolled for medical education in Japan, this limit has been raised recently keep in view the medical tourism 2020 target, Japan government has set up.

What Japan has to offer as a medical tourism destination?

It’s hard for Japan to compete on price with other Asian countries like India, Thailand etc. However Japan has got some edge in medical technology that the country can consider a major plus point to attract patients. Here are some unique things Japan offers to its medical tourists:

• Japan is world’s cancer specialists: Doctors in Japan are highly skilled for treatment of various kinds of caners. Radiotherapy and regenerative medicine is considered to be the specialty of Japanese doctors.
• Some high tech medical services are not available in developing nations. Japan can capitalize on this.

 

Hope medical tourism industry in Japan will meet the set targets and benefits not only Japan but people in developed nations like China, USA, Russia who find medical care very costly in the respective home nations.

Liver Transplant in India – The Medanta Story

India no doubt has earned the reputation among medical tourists. There are many hospitals India that are known for medical tourism like Fortis, Wockhardt Hospital, Apollo Hospital, Hiranandani Hospital,Artemis Health Science, Rotunda Surrogacy Clinic, Medanta Medicity . Every year hundreds of medical tourists visit these hospitals for medical treatment.


 However sometimes treatment can go fatal.  One such event regarding treatment at Medanta Medicity, Gurgoan is being shown as breaking news in the media.  What happened at Medanta hospital is something strange and unbelievable. According to the media one Liver transplant donor died after.  Rohit Chadda underwent operation as he was liver donor for his brother in law. It’s still not clear that is was medical negligence that caused death of the liver donor Rohit Chadda or was there some other reason behind his death during the operation.


Gurgaon police has registered against the hospital for culpable homicide. Though no arrest has been made till dat but six doctors are booked for negligence. It’s being claimed by the family of Rohit Chadda that according to reports Rohit wasn’t fir for liver transplant and despite being aware of the situation doctors cut as much as 69 percent of his liver for donation to his brother in law.


So for all the medical tourists of local people who need liver transplant in India are recommended to check the success rate for liver transplant in the hospital they are considering. And one must also learn about the complexities and danger involved in the liver transplant operation.


What is liver transplant all about?


Liver transplant may be required in certain medical conditions like:

• Liver dysfunction
• Liver cancer or benign liver tumors
• Some other liver disease
• Liver injury
• Long time hepatitis C or hepatitis C virus  infection
• Liver damaged due to alcohol consumption over time
• Hereditary liver diseases

In liver transplant surgery the diseased liver is removed from the body of the patient and it’s replaced with a healthy liver from a donor. In most the cases the donor is from the family/blood relation of the patient.  Though liver transplant is common nowadays but it’s a major operation and both donor and recipient must be fit for the operation.  Recipient may need medication regularly after the operation.

There are certain risks involved in liver transplant like liver rejection. You can learn more about the surgery at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/livertransplant_ez/


Hope you find this post informative. More interesting posts t o follow soon.

Hospitals for Medical Tourism in Costa Rica

Medical tourism in Costa Rica is growing at a faster rate and number of medical tourists visiting Costa Rica for health care and treatment gets almost doubled after every two years. Thus medical tourism has become a very important industry for this country. Costa Rica is promoting medical tourism heavily and investing good amount of time, money and efforts so that medical tourists have a pleasant experience of treatment there.  One can see the efforts in the quality of medical care and the high standard of hygiene maintained in the Costa Rica Hospitals.  It’s said that patients from countries like US and Canada will find no difference in the hospitals and clinics in Costa Rica while comparing to the hospitals of home country.

Costa Rica is one of the highly peaceful democracies in the world with lowest crime rates and high percentage of literacy (95% literacy rate). All the hospitals in the country are known for providing highest quality of health care services at affordable costs (almost fractions of what it would costs in US, Canada, UK etc)  Top hospital that are known for getting higher number of medical tourists are:

• Cima Hospital
• Clínica Católica
• Clínica Bíblica
• Santa Maria
• Santa Rita
• Hospital Hotel La Catolica
• Chetica Ranch Medical Recovery Center
• Rosenstock-Lieberman Center for Cosmetic Surgery

Some dental clinics are also getting good number of medical tourists for dental care abroad. List of dental clinics for dental tourism in Costa Rica is as follows:

• New Smile Dental, San Jose, Costa Rica
• Dental Cosmetics Costa Rica
• Prisma Dental Clinic
• Meza Dental Care Clinic

Hope you’ll find this post helpful. In case you need review of a particular hospital, clinic or doctor in Costa Rics, please feel free to get in touch with us and we’d be happy to provide an neutral review.

 Related post: http://medical-tourism-guidance.blogspot.com/2010/09/costa-rica-medical-tourism.html

Ayurveda in India

India is always the centre of attraction for tourists. The incredible beauty of India is a call for them indeed. There are a lot of cultural and geographical diversities in India; that are full of pleasure and surprises.

Ayurveda – “The science of life” is the prime attraction of Indian Tourism. Every year large number
of tourists are coming to India to take the advantages of Ayurveda. The glory and the treatments of
Ayurveda are based on the natural therapies; it revitalizes our body, mind and soul.

Ayurveda is an art which is 5000 years old and it is also mentioned in Holy Scriptures of Hindus. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word made of two words Ayus and Veda which means life and knowledge respectively. The therapies and treatments of Ayurveda give a healthy life to its followers; these therapies’ are done with the help of natural ingredients like herbs, curd, milk, flowers, medicinal oils and plants.

Therefore India is the ideal destination for the people who wants to enjoy and a healthy tour. Ayurvedic treatments and spas are becoming popular day by day. Some of the basic ayurvedic therapies india are:

Abhyanga: In this therapy complete body message is done with the help of medicated oils. It helps to
nurtures skin and improves eye sight.

Panchakarma: This is a five fold treatment that brings equilibrium to the body.

Choornaswedan: The therapy is done with the help of herbal powders bundles in a piece of cloth. It
helps in curing arthritis, sports injuries and neurological disorders.

Njavarakizhi: The therapy is done by trained and experienced therapists; having small bags filled with
cooked rice. This is for complete body rejuvenation.

Udwarthana: This massage is done by herbal powders. It is very effective in loosing fat.

To encompass these therapies there is large number of centers of ayurvedic treatment in India. Kerala is blessed with these medicated oils and herbs. The land is known for its exotic spices, medicated plants and herbs that are widely used in Ayurvedic treatments. That is the reason why Kerala is the thrilling destination for Ayurvedic followers. People come here across the globe to take the best ayurvedic treatments and spas. India Ayurvedic Tour is the best way to relax your body, mind and soul.

Dental Implants in Chandigarh: Get Beautiful smile and the City Beautiful

Chandigarh city in north India is also known as The City Beautiful.
Chandigarh in one of the leading city in India in terms of education,
employment and health care. Many patients from nearby states and from
outside the country visit Chandigarh for medical treatment like dental
implants, heart transplant, eye care and other general diseases.
PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research)
commonly known as PGI is the main hospital where patients from
Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and other parts
of north India visit for medical care. You can see thousand of
patients at PGI on daily basis. PGI is run by the government therefore
patients get a world class treatment at affordable costs. On the other
hand there are lots of private hospitals that offer world class
medical care with special attention. Fortis,Silver Oaks, Inscol are
few of popular private hospitals operating in the region.

Dental care in Chandigarh
One can get dental treatment like dental implants, smile makeover,
teeth whitening, invisalign etc at affordable costs and with great
quality. Dental clinics in Chandigarh maintain high levels of hygiene
and use state of the art technology for treatment. Cost of all major
and minor dental procedures can be as low as 10% of what it would cost
in US and UK. This has contributed to the rise in the number of people
visiting the city for dental care. Chandigarh is also a tourists
paradise also and its near to hill stations like Shimla, Manali where
tourist can extend the vacation for dental implants.  Dental tourism
in Chandigarh is rising year by year and many dental clinics are
upgrading regularly to meet the needs and expectation of dental &
medical tourists visiting the city.

Types of Dental implants: Various type of dental implants that you can
opt for in Chandigarh include:

• Tradional implants
• Immediate implants
• Immediate load dental implants
• 4 in 1 dental implants

Benefits of Dental implants:
- Improved chewing ability
- Look like natural teeth
- Better oral health
- Enhanced smile and makeover

Chandigarh Dental Implants Advantage:
- Low costs
- World class oral care
- State of the art technology used
- High quality hygiene standards
- Dentists in Chandigarh are highly trained and qualified
- Various attractions for tourist in and around the city
- Priority treatments for medical tourists
- Well connected by road, rail and air
- Convenient & cheap local transport with facility of local AC buses
- More developments in city going like upcoming metro project
- Dentists are mostly affiliated in IDA (Indian Dental Association)
AND ADA (American Dental Association)
- English is largely spoken

This was all about dental tourism and dental implants in Chandigarh.
In the later post I'll explain more about frequently asked questions
about dental tourism.  Good bye and take care of teeth, visit your
dentist regularly.

Jordan, the new medical tourism hub

Jordan is slowly emerging as new hub for medical tourism. Lots of people are now considering a dual purpose tour to Jordan i.e enjoy avacation and get health care services in the country at the same time.Given the revenue associated with medical tourism industry the Jordantourism board is promoting health tourism in the country strongly.Though Jordan ranks first in the region as a medical tourismdestinations, number of tourists visiting the country either for vacation or for medical treatments have dropped significantly due todisturbances in the neighboring countries. However the country is still very positive about the growth of health travel and aims tore-evaluate the plan to get more people visit the country for healthcare services.

One very strong point that can be in favor of Jordan over other topmedical tourism destinations like India, Mexico, Spain, Turkey etc is that Jordan is one of the cheapest place for treatment costs. Variousmedical procedures in Jordan can costs about 10 to 25% of what it'dcosts in US, UK or Australia.

Jordan also offer convenient traveling and majority of medicaltourists don't need a visa or get it on arrival. This is pretty helpful for those medical tourists who sometimes due to complexities ofmedical condition can't wait for VISA approval etc.Popular medical procedures in Jordan: Medical tourists visit Jordanmainly for procedures like:

• Cosmetic Surgery


• Orthopedic


• Liver Transplant

Highlights of Jordan Medical Tourism:

1. Ranked 5th in global medical tourism index by world bank .


2. English is widely spoken, though Arabic is the primary language


3. Spring (March to April) is the best time to visit the country and summers are extremely hot and winters can be cool or freezing.


4. Visa can be obtained on arrival at a low cost of 18$ to 34$ depending if you choose single entry or multiple entry visa.


5. Well connected by various international airlines conducting flights to the region.


6. Cheap hotel accommodation, luxury hotels can cost from 90$ to 250$ a night. Various hospitals and clinics also offer free stay for one attendant of patient.


7. Various tourists attraction to visits like dead sea, Petra, world class spa resorts, Mt. Nebo, Jerash, the Crusader castle at Karak etc.

Pleased feel free to post your comments or queries regarding Medical tourism in Jordan. Stay healthy

Spine surgery program - Fortis Hospital Medical Tourism Initiative

Spine surgery abroad is mostly seeked in patients who are unable to bear the expensive costs of the procedure in the home country. Spine surgery if offered in various hospitals in India and Fortis hospitam in Mohali is one of the most advanced hospital that offers spine surgery at affordable costs bust at same level of care and technology as compared to the home country. One important thing is that doctors in fortis hospital are more experienced as compared to other hospitals in developed nations.

Here is one very interesting package brochure by fortis hospital Mohali
Common symptoms in spine diseases:

• Neck pain radiating to upper limbs and back pain radiating to lower limbs.
• Difficulty in walking, not able to walk more than few steps.
• Tingling sensation in hands or feet.
• Numbness and stiffness of limbs.

The Neurosurgeon will have to assess neurologically to decide which patient needs spine surgery and how important the surgery is to prevent future complications. Generally speaking, around 805 of the patients with spine problems can be managed on medicines and physiotherapy after clinical examination and investigation.

The following surgical processes related with Spine are available at Fortis:

1. LUMBAR MICRODISCETOMY- for lumbar disc prolapsed: A small incision is given in back. A small fenestration (hole) is made in vertebra to remove the damaged disc. The patient can walk a day after the surgery and is discharged on the second day.

2. Cervical discectomy/ Cervical Disc Rplacement – for cervical disc prolapsed.

3. Spinal fusion surgery- for spine fractures.

4. Spondylolisthesis surgery- for degenerative/congenital lumbar spondylo-listhesis – posterior
lumbar interbody fusion and pedicle screw fixation is needed. The patient can walk on the second day after the surgery and can be discharged on the fourth day after the surgery.

5.Minimally Invasive Spine surgery –
-Microdiscectomy
- Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation

Benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery are:

• Faster return to normal activities
• Less post-operative pain
• Less damage to muscle and skin
• Smaller scars.

6.Verteroplasty / Kyphoplasty – Vertebrolplasty and Kyphoplasty are radiologic procedures for the treatment of the intense pain caused by vertebral compression fractures that are refractory to conventional therapies such as analgesic use, bed rest and bracing for osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

7. Spinal tumors Surgery: for various intradural/extradural spinal tumors.
Intradural Tumors – done by laminectomy and removal of tumor.
Extradural tumors – done by laminectomy and tumor decompression.

We will ensure you get the best care:
Your choice to go for spine surgery is a decision that should greatly improve the quality of your life!

We will help you to make every day of your life more enjoyable and productive by reducing your pain and by improving the level of your independence.

Our goal is to give you improved levels of mobility and ensure that your safely return home after a short hospital stay, usually two to three days. Your cooperation in following our instructions would help you get the maximum benefit from your spine surgery.

These guidelines will help you prepare well for your spine surgery:

Before Surgery: We would like you to attend our Spine Clinic at least one or two weeks prior to your surgery. This will familiarize you with our Spine Surgery Program as well as will answer all your queries. It will also prepare you for your recovery needs. Pre-surgical testing will also be done in this visit.

YOUR ROLE IN RECOVERY: You are not “ill” like many hospitalized patients. Rather, you will be recovering from a surgery that you have chosen to improve your quality of life. Keeping that in view, you play the most important role in your recovery and will have a lot of responsibility in making sure your surgery is a success.

You will make progress every day, but your will also have some ups and downs and rehabilitation may seem difficult initially. Do not get discouraged. Keep a positive attitude and remember that your pain will be reducing with the passage of each day. He more physically active you are, the faster your pain will recede and the better you will be able to get around. We recommend you to increase your activity daily. Walking will accelerate the return of your body functions to normal.

AFTER SURGERY :

• You may need to wear a lumbar belt or collar post-operative to promote a safe recovery.
• Normal diet is started in the evening on the same day. A soft diet may be necessary for cervical fusion patients.
• Cervical fusion patients may experience a temporary sore throat and trouble swallowing due to swelling.
• If your vital signs are stable and your pain is bearable, the nursing staff will help you in sitting up in a chair on the same day after the surgery.
• A slight fever is normal. It is the body’s reaction to the surgery.

PAIN MANAGEMENT
Post surgical pain is inevitable. Pain medication cannot eliminate pain completely, but our goal is to manage your pain with the help of special anesthetics, scheduled or additional medication (we call breakthrough pain medications), ice and movement.

PHYSIOTHERAPY/ACTIVITY IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS OF THE SURGERY.

After your surgery, you may feel like staying in bed. You should try sitting up and your nursing staff will help as and when the need arises.

Physical therapy will begin from the following day after the surgery. The nursing staff and physiotherapist will held you to get out of bed before physical therapy and also later in the day. We recommend you to be up and about at least three times a day. Patients, who are bed-confined, lose strength and motion quickly. They are also susceptible to several complications like pneumonia, blood clots and skin breakdown. Getting up and moving in the hospital corridor is the best thing you can do to recover from your surgery.

RECOVERY AT HOME:

• Incisions heal quickly. They usually do not need to be covered.
• Keep them clean and dry.
• You may shower. If the incisions get wet, simply pat them dry.
• Walk at least four times a day. As you begin to feel stable, increase the frequency and distance of your walks. Change your position (sitting, walking, lying down) every hour while you’re awake.
• Sit on chairs with armrests.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Will be able to climb stairs after surgery?

Yes, you can climb stairs (upstairs as well as downstairs). We will make sure you are able to do so before you are discharged.

Will I need held at Home?

You should be able to walk and take care of your personal needs. Do not bend down or lift heavy weights.

Will I need home Care?

Most patients do not need a nurse after the discharge. If you go directly home as planned, you will require physiotherapy for a few weeks.

Will I be able to have a bath?
You may shower within two days post surgery, but tub baths are not recommended. Once you are back home, bathing will decrease the chances of infection.

When will I be able to go back to work?
We recommend that most people take at least two weeks off from work. Whatever be the nature of your work, you will need to be up and taking short walks frequently.

How long will it take for me to recover after surgery?
Recovery happens very quickly after the surgery, but some stiffness and numbness may persist for months.