Surat medical tourism fails to take off

Poor air connectivity at Surat airport is affecting not only the trade but also the medical tourism. City has got excellent facilities that will boost its medical tourism however because of bad air connectivity the medical tourism industry there has taken a back seat. The appalling air connectivity still remains an unattended issue.

Being the economical hub of Gujarat, Surat has also progressed in medical sector with many good hospitals coming up in the city. City has a pool of specialists and trained hospital man-power required for medical tourism sector.

With hospitals charging at affordable rates, there is enough scope for medical tourism. Some hospitals already house patients coming from routes -Bharuch-Vapi and Surat-Jalgaon. However there are hospitals which still struggle to get patients from outside Surat. This all is attributed to poor-air-connectivity at Surat airport.

"There is enough scope for medical tourism in city as most of the treatments are available here. We do get few patients from foreign land but they mostly are referred to by their relatives or doctors. If air-connectivity issue is resolved, flow of foreign patients can be increased," said Apurva Vasavada, consultant physician at Care Hospital in Surat.

According to Vasavada, NRG (Non Resident Gujaratis) from US, Africa, South-East countries come to Surat, however their number is very low. Full-fledged medical tourism doesn't only boost business, but also create ample opportunities for the city.

Another reason that can attract patients to get treatment from hospitals in Surat is the fact that treatment here is cheaper as compared to Delhi or Mumbai.

"Treatment in Surat is much affordable than that offered in metropolitan cities. This can vary up to 25-50% depending on the hospital. Surat can get a number of foreign patients provided the poor air connectivity issue is resolved. There is a promising market for medical tourism in Surat," Devang Desai, city-based hear surgeon said.

Currently, Surat has a single flight connecting Delhi. In such circumstances, it becomes difficult for any patient to visit the city.
SGCCI is fighting hard for getting air-connectivity to Surat. They are hopeful to get additional flights till the end of 2012.