Over 50 per cent of the medical tourism market to India has been hit by the Middle East crisis
Our expert on Community Healthcare, *Dr. Naresh Purohit (Exec. Member of the Federation of Hospital Administrators), expresses his concern over impact of West Asia war on Indian Medical Tourism sector
New Delhi/ 
Bhopal:: West Asia War threatens healthcare access. Over 50 per cent of the medical tourism access to India has been hit by the Middle East crisis. Africa is a good 40-45 per cent and the Middle East is about 8-10 per cent. So together they are responsible for more than 50 per cent. The hospitals are utilising telemedicine and teleconsultations to tide over the crisis, while postponing elective and semi-elective procedures.
Recent developments in West Asia does have important ramifications highlighting how closely global mobility, healthcare access, and services trade are interconnected.
Medical value travel in India is an important component of the broader services export ecosystem, with West Asia historically serving as a key patient corridor The international patients are currently deciding to delay their medical travel plans due to factors, which include disruption in the air transit points and cancellation of flights, higher airfares and uncertainty about travel timelines and treatment continuity.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha are very important hubs for patients to come from Africa who change fl
ights. Though Air India flies to many destinations in Africa, patients usually rely on an airline with a transit. So all those airlines where the transit points are in the Gulf.
What we are seeing at this stage is not necessarily a drop in demand for treatment, but a shift in travel timelines. At the same time, many patients continue to stay engaged with doctors through virtual consultations and treatment planning discussions while evaluating the safest and most convenient time to travel (feature pic credit-globalhealthcareaccreditation.com).
*Dr. Narresh Purohit-MD, DNB, DIH, MHA, MRCP(UK), is an Epidemiologist, 
and Advisor-National Communicable Disease Control Program of Govt. of India, Madhya Pradesh and several state Health organizations. He’s the Principle Investigator – Association of Studies In Behavioural Science), Dr. Purohit is also Advisor-National Mental Health Program, Kidney Care and chief Investigaor to Hospitals Management Association of India.
