What Makes India a Preferred Medical Tourism Destination for Sierra Leonean Patients?

21 August,2024

The Indian medical tourism industry has been making waves internationally for the last few decades. Patients from all over the world are choosing to come to India to seek medical treatment. One such beneficiary of India’s medical tourism services is the West African country of Sierra Leone.

India and Sierra Leone have shared warm and cordial relations that date back more than six decades. India has contributed to Sierra Leone’s development by providing aid such as capacity building, soft loans, and scholarships. Trade relations between the two countries have also been on the rise, with pharmaceutical products being Sierra Leone’s top import from India. India has heavily donated medical aid and vaccines during Sierra Leone’s healthcare crises, such as the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, India has emerged as a trusted destination of choice amongst Sierra Leonean patients who seek affordable and safe medical facilities. This blog explores in detail why India is a favored medical tourism destination for Sierra Leonean patients.

Why do Patients from Sierra Leone Choose India for Medical Treatment?

The Indian healthcare system offers a viable solution to Sierra Leone’s developing medical services. Medical facilities in India and other supporting factors make India the top choice for Sierra Leonean patients. Some of these reasons include:

• High-quality Healthcare: Basic diagnostic and treatment options are not readily available in Sierra Leone. On the other hand, India’s highly developed and specialized medical facilities are well-known worldwide. Therefore, patients from Sierra Leone prefer to travel to India to seek medical services of the finest quality that are also safe and highly effective.
• Accreditations: Stringent regulations and guidelines set by international and national organizations such as the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) maintain the quality of healthcare in India. There are 55 JCI-accredited and over 1,300 NABH-accredited hospitals in India, which is a testament to the standard set by Indian healthcare.
• Highly Qualified Healthcare Workers: Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other medical staff in India are thoroughly trained in their respective fields, making them adept at treating a variety of medical conditions. Higher education from reputed international institutions only adds to their skills and expertise. As a result, Sierra Leonean patients are assured they will receive only the best healthcare in India.
• Affordable Treatment: One of the most critical factors Sierra Leonean patients consider before choosing treatment options is the cost of healthcare. The Indian medical system offers a solution by providing highly specialized treatments at a reasonable price. For example, the cost of a kidney transplant in India is USD 8,000 to USD 14,000. In contrast, the same procedure in developed countries such as the United States of America costs USD 442,500 on average. Therefore, Sierra Leonean patients prefer traveling to India over other medical tourism destinations.

Other Factors Supporting India’s Popularity As A Medical Tourism Destination For Sierra Leonean Patients

• State-of-the-art Infrastructure: Indian hospitals are equipped with the latest diagnostic and treatment facilities and modern amenities. Patients traveling from Sierra Leone can avail themselves of basic services, such as X-rays, and advanced technologies, such as robotic surgeries, all under one roof. Thus, seeking treatment becomes more accessible and convenient for Sierra Leonean patients.
• Patient-centric Approach: Indian doctors are known to prioritize the comfort and safety of international patients. Nurses and other medical personnel treat Sierra Leonean patients with the utmost respect and professionalism. The language barrier has also been overcome as English is spoken widely across both countries. As a result, patients from Sierra Leone tend to feel comfortable and welcome in India.
• Convenience of Travel: Several major airlines run frequent flights between Sierra Leone and India. The capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown, is well connected to major Indian cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The Indian government has eased visa restrictions to facilitate traveling to India for Sierra Leonean patients.
• Government Initiatives: ‘Heal in India’ and ‘Heal by India’ are initiatives started by the Indian Government to promote medical tourism in the country. With his initiative, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has started a Medical Value Travel Digital Portal for the convenience of international patients traveling to India. India is home to AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) and several other wellness retreats and spas included under these initiatives. These initiatives have led to a 15% rise in the number of Sierra Leonean patients coming to India for treatment.
• Medical Tourism Facilitators: India has several medical tourism companies that offer an all-inclusive package to Sierra Leonean patients. Their services include but are not limited to visa assistance, travel planning, ticket booking, language interpretation, accommodation, local SIM cards, booking appointments, food, and local sightseeing. They also make provisions for post-treatment care, including online video consultations and telemedicine services for Sierra Leonean patients.
• Number of Doctors: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that the ideal doctor-patient ratio for a country should be 1:1000. However, Sierra Leone has just 0.07 doctors per 1000 patients. On the other hand, the ratio in India is 1:834. As a result, India has ample doctors to treat Sierra Leonean patients traveling to India for treatment.

Which Specialties Are Commonly Opted For By Sierra Leonean Patients?

Indian hospitals offer diverse treatments to Sierra Leonean patients coming to the country. Some of the most commonly opted medical specialties include:

• Cardiology: Sierra Leonean patients suffering from heart disorders choose India as it offers treatments such as pacemaker implantation, bypass surgery, valve replacement surgery, and angioplasty at a reasonable rate. Indian cardiac surgeons are also skilled in modern surgical interventions such as minimally invasive heart surgery and interventional cardiology.
• Oncology: Almost 3,000 Sierra Leoneans get diagnosed with cancer every year. However, cancer treatment remains limited in the country.  Thus, patients from Sierra Leone travel to India to seek treatment for cancer, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. India also has facilities that provide the latest oncological treatment options, such as linear accelerator (LINAC), CAR T-cell therapy, and robotic cancer surgery.
• Orthopedics: Sierra Leonean patients coming to India opt for various orthopedic treatments, such as hip and knee replacements, sports injury treatment, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Indian orthopedic surgeons have also started incorporating modern techniques, such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and robotics, into orthopedic surgery to increase treatment quality and success rate.
• Neurosurgery: Neurosurgeons in India offer treatments such as brain tumor surgery, complex spinal surgery, laminectomy, craniotomy, and deep brain stimulation to Sierra Leonean patients. Advanced neurosurgical treatments such as Gamma Knife radiosurgery, stereotactic surgery, and proton beam therapy are also widely available in Indian hospitals.

Other Medical Specialties Available for Sierra Leonean Patients in India

Along with cardiac care, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and cancer treatment, Sierra Leonean patients also travel to India for specialties such as:

• Organ Transplantation: India ranks third in the world in the number of organ transplants performed. Kidney and liver transplants are the most common procedures opted by Sierra Leonean patients. Indian transplant surgeons are known to perform transplant surgeries with a success rate of over 90% and at a reasonable price.
• Fertility Treatment: In-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments in India have shown excellent success rates. Also, the cost of IVF in Indian hospitals is USD 1,200 to USD 4,200, whereas in the United States of America, the price for IVF is around USD 14,000 to USD 20,000. Therefore, Sierra Leonean patients looking to start a family opt for India over other developed countries to seek affordable and effective fertility treatments.
• Plastic Surgery: India stands fifth in the list of countries with the most number of plastic surgeries performed. Sierra Leonean patients travel to India to seek treatments such as breast augmentation, facelift surgery, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, liposuction, and tummy tuck. Indian plastic surgeons also regularly use advanced technologies, such as 3D imaging, endoscopy, and laser technology, to achieve better results.
• Ophthalmology: Eye hospitals in India offer Sierra Leonean patients ophthalmological treatments such as glaucoma and cataract surgery. They are also known to perform advanced procedures such as LASIK, PRK, and Contoura Vision with a 98% success rate and at an affordable price. As a result, Sierra Leonean patients choose to come to India for these procedures.

Best Hospitals in India for Sierra Leonean Patients

India has a large number of NABH and JCI-accredited hospitals from which Sierra Leonean patients can choose. Some of the top hospitals in India are:

• Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
• Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai
• Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi
• Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, Ghaziabad
• Nanavati-Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai
• Gleneagles BGS Hospital Kengeri, Bengaluru
• Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Okhla, New Delhi

Indian Medical Visa: Documents Required, Procedure, Validity, and Other Information

Sierra Leonean patients traveling to India for medical treatment must apply for an Indian Medical Visa, known as the medical eVisa.

What are the Documents Required for Visa Application?

Sierra Leonean patients have to produce the following documents at the time of visa application:

• Filled and signed visa application form
• A Sierra Leonean passport with at least six months of validity
• Two recent passport-size photographs
• Latest bank account statement as proof that patients can sustain themselves in India
• Confirmed return tickets to Sierra Leone
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate
• All relevant medical records
• A letter from the local hospital in Sierra Leone mentioning the patient’s medical condition and required treatment
• Official invitation letter from the Indian hospital
• A visa invitation letter (VIL) from the Indian hospital

What is the Validity of the Indian Medical Visa?

• The Indian medical visa for Sierra Leonean patients is valid for the period of treatment or one year, whichever is less.
• It is a triple-entry visa, which means the patient can enter India up to three times within the validity period.

What is the Procedure to Obtain an Indian Medical Visa?

• Local Hospital Consultation: The patient is initially required to consult a local doctor in Sierra Leone. The doctor conducts diagnostic tests, presents a diagnosis, and gives a treatment plan. The patient is then referred to an Indian hospital for further treatment.
• Choosing an Indian hospital: The patient has to choose from various Indian hospitals based on the treatment required, budget, travel and accommodation options, and other considerations.
• Visa Application: The patient has to apply for a medical visa by submitting a visa application form and relevant documents.
• Visa Approval: Once the authorities review the application form and documents, the patient is granted an Indian medical visa and is permitted to travel to India.

What are the Things to Remember When Applying for an Indian Medical Visa?

• The visa application fees must be paid in cash at the High Commission Office.
• The fees, once paid, cannot be refunded.
• Patients can enter India from the designated 31 airports and 6 seaports only.
• The visa processing time is three working days.
• The attendants accompanying the patients have to apply for a separate Medical Attendant Visa.

To Conclude

India’s healthcare system has several benefits, such as high-quality treatment, expert professionals, affordable treatment options, and top-notch infrastructure. These factors are essential for Sierra Leonean patients traveling to India for medical treatment. As diplomatic relations between India and Sierra Leone continue to deepen, the number of Sierra Leoneans opting for safe, effective, and quality medical services in India will keep growing.

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