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January 17, 2010 | ‘Brit Govt could save millions by promoting health tourism to India’ | London: The British Government could save tens of millions of pounds and slash the waiting lists if some National Health Service (NHS) patients were treated in India, according to health economists' calculations. Thousands
of patients waiting for operations such as hip replacements and hernia repairs
could be treated more cheaply and quickly if the Government set up formal
agreements
with countries such as India , The Independent reports. Health experts at the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Indian Institute
of Management in Bangalore have been exploring the potential for bilateral
agreements
to trade health services between the UK and India . Their preliminary findings
from the year-long study suggest a two-way agreement would benefit both countries
while alleviating many of the concerns about medical tourism. According to the
report, at least 120 million pounds could be saved if NHS patients currently waiting
for just five different operations went to India , with a companion, for treatment
in an accredited hospital. A two-way agreement would make it easier to guarantee
high-quality treatment, good follow-up care and deal with malpractice or clinical
negligence. It could also help to counter the brain-drain from India as health
professionals may choose to stay if given better conditions and higher salaries
in international hospitals. English is universally spoken among educated Indians
and the health and education systems share many similarities. And Britons are
used to Indian doctors. These factors could make India an acceptable destination
for some people awaiting NHS treatment. Hundreds of thousands of people
worldwide already travel abroad to buy quicker, cheaper or better healthcare. Many
Britons travel abroad for dental care, plastic surgery, IVF and organ transplants. |
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