When Martha Bennett, a 37-year old schoolteacher, discovered she had a degenerative joint disease, she began assessing her treatment options. Where her friends deliberated with her about the steep cost estimate of the surgery in her hometown medical centre, Martha fretted for her health. Eventually, her search led her to consider surgery in a far-flung place, a land undiscovered to her. She was flying miles away from her hometown to get operated in India. A month later, Martha is back home to her elated family and friends; her knee replacement surgery was a complete success and she had saved $67,000.

Medical tourism—the concept of travelling far and beyond to seek healthcare equivalent in quality and remarkably cheaper than at home—has gained stronger ground as globalization takes on a new meaning. Today, people are travelling to developing countries to fulfil their medical need from cardiac care to cosmetic surgery. Offshore health care does not just reduce medical costs significantly; it often also brings down wait time.

Amongst developing countries, India emerges as the most promising destination for health care and rejuvenation with millions of satisfied medical tourists testifying its high quality. The pool of experienced doctors, state-of-the art medical infrastructure and world-class treatment options at economical prices, all emphasize India’s position on the medical tourism map. Hospitals offer the latest technology with veteran staff who provide well-timed quality treatment to patients. Some hospitals also have international accreditations endorsing the quality of Indian medical care. What more, many private hospitals are now packaging amenities such as airport-to-hospital bed services, in-room internet access, personalised nursing services and private chefs, much to the comfort of new tourists overwhelmed by the unwelcoming chaos within.

Apart from quality healthcare, what renders India an edge over other developing countries is the availability of numerous rejuvenation options and the ease in stay, commute and communication in the country. Wellness spas offer foreigners holistic post-operative recuperation. Adding to that, Indians are known to be hospitable by culture and also possess a reasonable command over English. The hospitality of Indians coupled with a sterile and luxurious environment offered by hotels and hospitals ensure that a foreigner’s stay is free from concerns of safety and hygiene.

It comes as no surprise that medical tourism in India has seen tremendous redefinition over the years. Indian healthcare is considered low-cost, hassle-free and meets the standards of a developed nation. India’s multiple stay options, highly-trained surgeons and modern medical equipment coupled with the comfort and hospitality to aid complete rejuvenation makes India a highly sought-after medical tourist destination.