British Travel Agents Offer Surgery Trips To India

agni5454 · May 15th, 2005, 19:06

Quote:

Travel firm to offer 'sun and surgery' in India to British patients: report

Sat May 14, 5:57 AM ET

The travel firm Thomas Cook will offer "sun and surgery" package deals to India for patients tired of waiting for operations in Britain's National Health System (NHS), a newspaper reported.

Thomas Cook hopes, within the next few months, to be offering deals that include flights, operations, accommodation in a private hospital and even recuperation time on the beach, the Daily Mail reported.

The newspaper said the firm is using Britain to test the market.

Standards in many Indian private hospitals are often higher than in many British NHS facilities, it said. Costs are much lower than in private hospitals in Britain, it added.

Many Britons complain they must wait long periods for surgery in the NHS system.

"What we want to offer are healthcare holidays where people can go and have their operations in hospitals recommended to them in our brochures," said Ameeta Munshi, Thomas Cook's spokesman in India.

"This is going to be affordable and for anyone who is in pain and can't be treated on the NHS, the fact that healthcare is so much cheaper here anyway means the whole deal is going to be very attractive," she was quoted as saying.

"Our lawyers and insurance experts are looking over the final details but we would expect to launch the deals within the next two to three months," she said.

Cheaper medical costs lured up to 150,000 international visitors to India last year, with around 400 from Britain, or a rise of 15 percent in British patients in one year, the newspaper said.

SOURCE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050514...0505 14095750

Nick-H · May 15th, 2005, 23:11

I have no problem with the idea of medical treatment in India, but I wouldn't choose a travel agent to arrange it

agni5454 · May 16th, 2005, 00:18

Hey nick,

I am not sure how the public would accept this news though. I mean more job loss, etc.....we will see. But i guess it would be much beneficial for the suffering.

-john

Nick-H · May 16th, 2005, 00:50

I don't think it will cause job losses in UK. Remember that UK health care is still, largely, free and, as such, much in demand.

Unless the NHS closes all its hospitals and becomes a big outsourcing agency

tonylittle · May 16th, 2005, 00:56

Hi
Is it free on the Nhs?

Nick-H · May 16th, 2005, 00:59

Actually, I sem to remember hearing that the NHS was sending some people to Europe for surgery a while back, but India? I don't think so yet.

agni5454 · May 16th, 2005, 01:16

i wish US had free health care

SteveM · May 16th, 2005, 01:27

My girlfriend had an MRI Scan in Goa after suffering 15 months of pain in her back. It took 2 weeks for an xray and MRI scan for a 10th of the price in the UK. I do agree with Nick though...would'nt use a Travel Agent

May 15th, 2005, 23:11	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,765	I have no problem with the idea of medical treatment in India, but I wouldn't choose a travel agent to arrange it __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

May 16th, 2005, 01:27	#8
SteveM Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: UK Posts: 122	My girlfriend had an MRI Scan in Goa after suffering 15 months of pain in her back. It took 2 weeks for an xray and MRI scan for a 10th of the price in the UK. I do agree with Nick though...would'nt use a Travel Agent __________________ Life is what happens to you while you are making other plans.

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May 16th, 2005, 00:18	#3
agni5454 Mr. 200 ...and counting. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PA, US Posts: 538	Hey nick, I am not sure how the public would accept this news though. I mean more job loss, etc.....we will see. But i guess it would be much beneficial for the suffering. -john

May 16th, 2005, 00:50	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,765	I don't think it will cause job losses in UK. Remember that UK health care is still, largely, free and, as such, much in demand. Unless the NHS closes all its hospitals and becomes a big outsourcing agency

May 16th, 2005, 00:56	#5
tonylittle Da Da Gee Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ross on wye england Posts: 311	Hi Is it free on the Nhs?

May 16th, 2005, 00:59	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,765	Actually, I sem to remember hearing that the NHS was sending some people to Europe for surgery a while back, but India? I don't think so yet.

May 16th, 2005, 01:16	#7
agni5454 Mr. 200 ...and counting. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PA, US Posts: 538	i wish US had free health care

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