Some 40 policemen landed up at the Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road recently to check whether their 100-odd foreign patients undergoing treatment at the hospital had valid visas. While some patients were uncomfortable and embarrassed, the hospital management was upset. 

On Tuesday, hospital chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy, who is also the CII chairman of the public health council, said India has been receiving patients from across the. "But despite our capabilities, we have not been able to be on the top because of inadequate support from the government," he told reporters.

As per a TOI report, Since the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, the cost of medical visa has gone up by three times for citizens of some countries, he said. The processing procedures have also become cumbersome and tedious. Also, policemen visit the hospital to check on the patients and their attenders. 

"If you ask me why, I have no answers," said Dr Reddy. "We have made several representations to the external affairs ministry and the Union health ministry. Sometimes, even if we think the patient may not be fit to travel, we discharge them because the visa process for extension is complicated." 

Countries like the UK and the US have supported medical tourism for several decades now. However, in many Asian countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India, the concept is new and rapidly growing. Market estimates value medical tourism in India at US$ 40 billion with annual growth of 20%.

CII estimates that 1,50,000 medical tourists came to India in 2005, based on feedback from the organization's member hospitals. The number grew to 2,00,000 (33%) by 2008. Experts expect that by 2015, India will receive more than half a million medical tourists annually. 

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