KRISHNA Heart and Super Specialty Institute

The Indian EXPRESS

AHMEDABAD News line THURSDAY, November 6, 2003

ROHIT BHAN

VADODARA, NOVEMBER 5

James Stewart Campbell is looking forward to his return to Scotland , as now he’ll be able to play with his five year old granddaughter Britney whom he dotes on. But the 68 year old Scot, who underwent knee replacement surgery recently at Ahmedabad’s KRISHNA Hospital, says it won’t be easy to forget either the expertise of doctors or the hospitality he received here.

Campbell ’s words of praise speak volumes about the health of the healthcare industry in Gujarat. Attracted by low costs and tired of the long waiting lists back home, foreign nationals have taken a cue from NRIs and are coming to Gujarat ’s multi-specialty hospitals for treatment.

Director of Orthopedic Department at the KRISHNA hospital Dr. Vikram Shah, who operated on Campbell , says four more Britons – including a physician – are next in line for surgery.

No wonder Dr. Shah is upbeat. “The knee replacement operation of four Britishers has been finalized. The next will be a physician, Dr. Robin, from London which is scheduled for the first week of January,” says Dr. Shah, who adds that he’s operated on many NRIs before.

The USP that’s attracting NRIs as well as foreign nationals is primarily the cost, say medicos. Campbell, who is undergoing physiotherapy in Vadodara, says that despite the cost of air travel and the treatment, he has been able to save up to 13,000 pounds “I will recommend it to people back home since it’s not only affordable but doctors also give a lot of personal attention.”

Knee replacement cost:

Gujarat Rs 65,000 - 80,000

Korea , Japan Rs 2,00,000

UK Rs 1,50,000

Another factor is the long waiting list in the UK. Campbell, who will now be able to walk without support, says: “My osteo-arthritis was detected two years ago, I was on treatment there but surgery was not possible there for at least the next two years due to the long waiting list. But I was lucky to get it done in Ahmedabad by one of the best doctors.”

It’s not KRISHNA alone that’s eying the foreign nationals. “Apollo has been registered with the National Health Service (NHS) of England and this will translate into many foreign nationals quality treatment available here at a low cost, “said ortho surgeon at the Apollo hospital, Dr. Harshvardhan Hedge. The hospital is also gearing up to receive such patients. “Given the quality health – care we provide, foreigners are bound to be attracted to the health-care sector here,” adds Dr. Hedge.

“If quality surgery is available at cheaper price and there is no waiting period, why shouldn’t they”.