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Medical tourists from around world flock to India

Julie Hutchinson

Published February 26, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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Ryan McLean has been accepted for experimental therapy involving human embryonic stem cells at a clinic in Delhi, India, where the treatment is legal.

People with irreversible injuries can voluntarily undergo experimental treatment at clinics like the one where McLean will go this summer.

McLean applied to the Delhi clinic of Dr. Geeta Shroff after learning of the experience of 40-year-old Basalt resident Amanda Boxtel, who has lived in a wheelchair since a 1992 skiing accident at Snowmass left her a paraplegic.

On the Web site McLean established to help raise money for her trip to India, the Cherry Creek High School biology teacher describes Boxtel as a "mentor" who helped her following the 1997 car crash that left her paralyzed from the rib cage down.

Boxtel reports she is experiencing significant ongoing improvement, including increased bladder and muscle control, since she completed her second round of therapy at Shroff's Nutech Mediworld clinic early this year.

Boxtel traveled to Delhi for her first treatment in June 2007. If progress continues, Boxtel expects to undergo up to six more treatments over the next two years.

Boxtel said on her Web site that each regimen costs about $15,000, plus travel, meals and medicine, and requires rigorous daily physical therapy - a further expense.

In an article in The Aspen Times, Boxtel said she was one of the first Americans to visit Shroff's clinic last June.

The Indian Journal of Medical Ethics said the country's growing medical tourism market contributed more than $300 million to the economy in 2005. More than 1 million foreigners from 55 countries visited India for medical care in 2005. The Journal estimates visitors from the U.S. and United Kingdom represented the biggest increases.

Comments

  • February 26, 2008

    1:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Theoldguy writes:

    I wish her luck. India leads in medical help because of better educated doctors and staff. No lawyers chasing ambulances is another great thing. American politicians want to reinvent our poor health care system and pass the cost on to us. I'll pass and either die here or take a trip to India. A neighbor had a hysterectomy in India for a total cost of 1500 bucks. Her husband had a complete physical for $150 extra. The trip was more expensive that the surgery. The post surgery and after care were stupendous. We get ripped off for prescription medicine when a better diet may be the cure. Nope, I'll bet we all have doctors that are extremely fast on the draw when it comes to pill prescriptions.

    Ryan, I wish you luck again and would love to be a counter force if any ignorant bible thumper's show up at your school to protest. Which proves one thing about this country...We breed like rabbits, but not smart rabbits.

  • March 2, 2008

    6:15 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dantrenner writes:

    It's all over the Internet how India is becoming the world health care center. They have it all. Brain surgery, heart surgery, orthopedics, eye, organ transplants, dental and every other kind of surgery. HOWEVER, one caveat. Don't go to India without a personal concierge service. It can make or break your trip. I know. I've been there and done that!

    You know how India is outsourcing everything? Let me give you a switch. America outsourced three of its natives to India! Yep, that's right! They actually live in India year round and love it there. They run one of these medical tourism businesses right from Mumbai (Bombay), India and their service is tops. See America's Medical Solutions. www.americasmedicalsolutions.com

    These three Americans own and operate the company mentioned above and they are ON TOP of everything that we need and want when we're there. Need a burger instead of the hospital food? They bring it to you. And I cannot say enough about the medical care. The doctors and nursing staff are only outshined by the housekeeping staff. Everyone is involved in your recovery and they treat you like a queen or king.

    Want to do some sight seeing? They are there. Just want your hand held? They are there. Leaving the airport would be intimidating without them, but they are there and they know everything you need to know so that you can travel there alone and feel like you're home.

    Indian medicine and health care is the best in the world, and the room is like a five star hotel room in a hospital. You have to see it to believe it, but if you need health care India has the best. America's Medical Solutions has tie ups with another company I couldn't recommend enough. It's called NM Medical www.nmmedical.com and for about one thousand dollars you can have a $15,000 medical check up which includes the latest 64 slice heart scan, and you name it. Their equipment is on the bleeding edge (no pun intended) of technology. If you're taking a trip over to India on business, anywhere from $350 to $1,000 you can have one of these general all inclusive medical check ups.

    If I sound like I'm convinced about India's medical health care, hospitals and clinice, just sign me as been there and done that and would go again!

    Dan