Why are Ugandan Patients Choosing India for Treatment?

28 June,2024

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 95% of African patients who want to travel for medical facilities prefer to visit Asia, particularly India. In a country like Uganda, medical facilities are severely limited due to governance and leadership issues, lack of quality medical education, inadequate financial support for healthcare, and high treatment costs. As a result, more than 2,500 patients come to India each year to get safe, affordable, and good-quality medical care.

Since 1965, India and Uganda have harbored a cordial diplomatic relationship, with citizens of both countries easily traveling back and forth. Uganda has also embraced India's cultural heritage, being the only African country to celebrate Diwali in the State House. In the healthcare sector, 30% of Uganda's pharmaceutical imports come from India. A telemedicine center was set up in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, in 2009 to bolster Uganda's medical system further. This center is connected to 11 renowned hospitals in India and offers basic diagnostic services such as x-rays and ultrasounds. This article further elaborates on why India is the favored medical tourism destination for Ugandan patients.

Reasons Why Ugandan Patients Prefer India

Uganda's healthcare system needs to be adequately developed to treat illnesses faced by its citizens. Therefore, it becomes more convenient for them to travel to India to seek treatment. Some reasons for this are:

• Affordable Treatment: In India, the cost of treatment of serious conditions like cancer or orthopedic disorders is significantly less as compared to developed countries like the United States of America or the United Kingdom. Also, if surgical procedures like knee replacements are considered, the average cost in Uganda can go up to UGX 2,14,32,600 (USD 5,700), but in India, knee replacement starts at INR 1,50,000 (USD 1800). As a result, those patients unable to afford treatment in Uganda also prefer to come to India to seek healthcare.
• Expert Medical Staff: The quality of medical education in India is of the highest standards, and doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other medical staff are trained to provide the best possible services. Many of them also seek international education and specialized training. The training and experience of such medical professionals raise the treatment standards in India.
• State-of-the-art Infrastructure: The healthcare system in India is robust, and new developments are being introduced daily to improve the quality of treatment. Indian hospitals are also carefully inspected through accreditations by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI). Thus, Ugandan patients are assured of the best possible outcomes for their health in India.
• Availability of Doctors: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the optimal doctor-patient ratio for a country should be 1:1000. In Uganda, this ratio is 1:25000. Conversely, the ratio in India is 1:834. Hence, doctor availability is not an issue in India, and Ugandan patients can quickly get an appointment with top specialists in various fields of medicine.

Why is India the Destination of Choice for Ugandan Patients?

There are a few more factors that contribute to India's popularity as a preferred medical tourism destination for Ugandan patients, such as:

• Traveling Convenience: It is quite feasible for Ugandans to come to India, as several flights connect Entebbe to major Indian cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Chennai, and Ahmedabad. The cost of these flights starts from INR 19,000 (USD 230). The average time to fly from Uganda to India is a little over 7 hours, and the frequency of flights is around thrice a week.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Doctors in India are known to take into consideration the unique healthcare needs of Ugandan patients. They are treated with utmost respect, warmth, and professionalism. The medical tourism system ensures that the entire process is as seamless as possible for the patients. Moreover, as English is widely spoken in both countries, communication between the doctor and the patient becomes easy.
• End-to-end Care: Patients coming to India are provided with a complete healthcare package that includes consultation, treatment, and post-treatment care. Once the patient returns to their country, follow-up appointments are conducted by telecommunication or coordinating with local doctors.
• Modern Technology: The healthcare system in Uganda is still under development, and there is a shortage of basic diagnostic equipment, such as a PET scan machine used to detect the spread of cancer. On the other hand, India is regularly making strides in advanced diagnostic and treatment methods, such as robotic and minimally invasive surgery. These latest procedures are available to patients traveling from Uganda.

Procedures Commonly Opted By Ugandan Patients

Patients from Uganda come to India to seek different kinds of treatments. The most common specialties are:

• Cardiology: Ugandan patients with heart disorders choose India as their treatment destination due to the availability of high-quality cardiac care. Routine procedures such as bypass surgeries, closure of septal defects, and advanced cardiac interventions like septal ablation with alcohol, balloon valvuloplasty, and cardiac catheterization are regularly performed by Indian cardiologists.
• Neurology: Indian hospitals provide treatment for various neurological disorders such as epilepsy, brain tumors, and Parkinson's syndrome. Recent advances in neurosurgery, such as deep brain stimulation, ZAP-X, neuroprosthetics, microsurgery, and gene therapy, are also available to Ugandan patients in India.
• Organ Transplantation: India offers safe transplant surgeries of organs such as liver and kidneys with a high success rate. Surgeons in India are trained to perform life-saving transplantations in adults and children. Newer developments, such as improvements in organ preservation and robot-assisted kidney transplantation, have been effectively practiced in India.
• Oncology: Cancer treatment in India includes procedures such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as the latest innovations like precision oncology, CyberKnife radiosurgery, and immunotherapy. These therapies are available to Ugandan patients at a much lower cost than in other developed countries.

Other Treatments Sought By Ugandan Patients In India

Apart from neurology, organ transplant, cancer treatment, and cardiology, patients from Uganda visit India for:

• Bone Marrow Transplant: Bone marrow transplantation cures blood disorders such as aplastic anemia and thalassemia in pediatric patients. It is also done in adults to treat disorders such as lymphoma and leukemia. Indian doctors have been conducting these procedures safely and effectively for a long time.
• Orthopedics: Joint replacements and spine surgeries are the most commonly sought orthopedic procedures by Ugandan patients in India. Modern technologies such as 3D printing, minimally invasive techniques, and robotics are also regularly employed for orthopedic surgeries in Indian hospitals.
• Dentistry: Ugandan patients often travel to India to seek routine dental procedures like root canal treatments, tooth extractions, and orthodontic corrections. Dentists in India are also trained in high-tech dental treatments such as laser dentistry, immediate implants, and invisible braces.
• Fertility Treatments: India is one of the few countries to conduct fertility treatments with high success rates. Procedures like assisted reproductive techniques (ART) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) are safely performed at a fraction of the cost worldwide. This has been a ray of hope to several Ugandan families trying to conceive.
• Ophthalmology: Common eye surgeries, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and LASIK surgeries, are widely available in Indian hospitals. Ugandan patients can also avail themselves of the latest ophthalmological procedures, such as minimally invasive eye surgeries.

Best Hospitals in India for Uganda Patients

India has over 50 JCI-accredited hospitals, amongst the top choices for Ugandan patients. Some of these hospitals are:

• Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurgaon
• Nanavati-Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai
• Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi
• Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai
• Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore

What are the Indian Medical Visa Requirements, Eligibility Criteria, and Fees for Ugandan Citizens?

Citizens of Uganda can apply for an Indian medical visa, known as the e-Medical visa, on the Indian visa website or in person at the Indian High Commission or Consulate in Uganda. Family members or close acquaintances traveling with the patient have to apply for a separate visa, known as the e-Medical Attendant visa.

Documents Required

Visa applicants have to produce documents at the time of application as mentioned:

• Passport with at least six months of validity
• Completely filled out the visa application form
• Proof of residency (driver's license/utility bills)
• Two recent passport-sized photographs on a white background
• Reference letter from the local hospital in Uganda
• Visa invitation letter (VIL) from the hospital to be visited in India
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate (vaccination should be completed at least 14 days before the date of travel)
• Relevant medical records
• Financial documents as proof that patients can sustain themselves in India
• Confirmed return tickets to Uganda

Payment

The processing fee for Ugandan citizens applying for an Indian medical visa is UGX 3,00,000 (approximately USD 80). Once paid, this fee is non-refundable.

Eligibility Criteria

Ugandan citizens can apply for an Indian medical visa only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

• If the traveler's only purpose is to go to India for medical treatment.
• If the patient is seeking treatment from a hospital that is recognized or accredited by the Government of India.
• If the patient is accompanied by a maximum of two family members or associates as medical attendants.

Things to Keep in Mind Regarding the Indian Medical Visa

• The validity of the visa is sixty days from the date of entry.
• It is a triple entry visa, i.e., the patient can enter India thrice in 60 days.
• Citizens can apply for the visa at least four days before the date of travel, with a window of 120 days. They are generally recommended to apply at least 4-7 days before the travel date.
• Patients can apply for a medical visa up to twice a year.
• The visa grants entry into India from any of the 31 designated airports or five designated seaports. Departure from India is allowed from any of the Indian Immigration Check Posts (ICPs).
• The medical visa is not convertible to any other type of visa.
• On arrival in India, registration with the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) is mandatory.

Conclusion

As Uganda's medical system continues to develop, citizens requiring medical care for their illnesses prefer to avail themselves of the ample healthcare facilities provided by India. Top-notch infrastructure, highly qualified medical professionals, advanced treatment procedures, and ease of travel contribute largely to India's popularity as a medical tourism destination for Ugandan patients.

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