Cancer is a devastating disease that is affecting millions of people globally. Moreover, it drains patients physically and financially. Recently, India has emerged as a hub for medical tourism and a top choice for international cancer patients. Thanks to its advanced medical infrastructure, skilled oncologists, and affordable treatments.
Why India for Cancer Treatment?
Here are reasons why international patients choose India for cancer treatment –
Cost-Effective Care
India offers cancer treatments at much lower costs than developed countries. Chemotherapy in India costs $1,000–$2,000 per cycle, compared to $10,000–$15,000 in the U.S. Advanced procedures like robotic surgery are up to 70% cheaper than in Western countries.
Expert Indian Oncologists
Indian oncologists are renowned globally and often trained at top institutions like MD Anderson (USA) and Royal Marsden (UK). In the past decade, oncologists have seen significant progress in cancer drug development and approvals. This draws patients from around the world.
Effective Pharmaceuticals
India is well-positioned to lead in global cancer care due to its strong pharmaceutical industry. Known for manufacturing, India is growing in biosimilars, essential for precision medicine. The global biosimilar market could be a $240 billion opportunity, with India’s market reaching $40 billion by 2030. Thereby India aims to make life-saving cancer treatments accessible to all.
Pre-Trip Consultation
India facilitates patients with detailed information about treatment options and costs incurred. Moreover, top hospitals and oncologists in the country help them make informed decisions.
Visa Assistance
Patients can obtain medical visas with the help of medical tourism and avoid the challenges involved.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Indian hospitals use a comprehensive approach, offering diagnostics, advanced tech like CyberKnife and proton therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and rehabilitation, all in one place.
Recent advances in gene research and sequencing help identify unique cancer neoantigens. These can be targeted by personalized treatments like vaccines and special T-cell therapies.
Post-Treatment Follow-Up
India provides ongoing support after treatment, including follow-up consultations and help with medical records and prescriptions.
Medical Tourism in Oncology
The Indian Ministry of Tourism reported medical tourism was worth $9 billion in 2020, growing at 20% annually. Oncology is a major part of this growth. Each year, over 600,000 international patients come to India for advanced treatments, making medical travel worth $5-6 billion.
An ICMR report highlighted advancements in cancer care, improving outcomes for local and international patients.
Stories of Hope and Success
India’s success in oncology shows its global healthcare impact. For example, a Tanzanian patient with blood cancer received advanced and affordable immunotherapy in India, achieving remission. Such stories highlight India’s reputation for quality care.
No wonder India can lead in developing precision population cancer medicine (PPCM), advancing beyond just disease management.
Therefore, India’s focus on expanding telemedicine and personalized medicine enhances its appeal. By 2030, it aims to lead in cancer care with its ever-growing and evolving technology and research.
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