With 50 million Americans without health insurance and the waiting lists for state-run facilities often endless in the UK, Canada and Europe, patients are increasingly flocking to India because it offers quality treatment at a fifth of the cost. To cater to this demand, high-end Indian hospitals are getting accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI), which is the gold standard for hospitals in the United States and Europe.

Mr. Vishal Bali, MD, Wockhardt Hospitals Group says, "What patients get at the Wockhardt Hospitals in India are quality standards which are truly global at costs which are third world costs. So, this huge cost differential, which is there, which is one fifth or one tenth sometimes, comes with quality standards that are practiced in the West. We do a lot of handholding for these patients. For many patients there are at least 20 conversations, which sometimes happen between our facilitators and the patient in terms of ensuring them that they are going to be in good hands and that, there is going to be a support mechanism for them which will work around all their needs and also to explain to them that when they get out of the airport, they are going to see crowded roads, some unhygienic conditions, but that is not what the hospital is. The hospital is a different world."

Fifty-eight years old John Clark was not worried when he landed in Mumbai because he had done extensive research. He needed a hip resurfacing treatment that was originally developed in the UK, but because of delays in the country’s National Health Service (NHS), he was forced to look overseas.

"I could have had it done on the National Health Service, but it would have been about six months, and another six months more. I looked into going private and I looked at both angles, in India and in England. In England, to go private, it would have cost me nearly ten thousand pounds. I had waited long enough; I just wanted it done, so we looked on the internet. It also seemed quite nice because we wanted to book a holiday to go, so a full price of four thousand two hundred pounds including the flight. I was very happy with that", recounts John.

Rhodney Watkins is recovering from hip resurfacing operation. This American scuba diving instructor found the treatment wasn't available in the United States, as it hasn't yet been approved despite being successful in India and the UK for over a decade.

"That's why I am here. I can't get the medicine I want in the United States. What else can I say? But, I can in India. So, to me India is a first world nation medically", says Rhodney

As a destination for high-end tertiary healthcare, India scores over South East Asian countries like Thailand, which are better known for low-end healthcare like cosmetic surgery and dental care.

Indian hospitals now offer post-surgery tourist packages that are included in the cost. Margaret Mason and her husband spent three weeks holidaying in Kerala and Goa after her knee replacement surgery.

"We got to see some of the country, and it's beautiful, what we saw. The people are friendly, helpful and courteous. We take home great - great memories", chirps Margaret.

India's growing number of private corporate hospitals is attracting interest from western insurance companies and corporates, keen on cutting their ballooning medicare costs.

"The entire process is going to get organized through insurance companies tying up directly with hospitals in India and reimbursing all the costs to the patients; which means that those patients who are today not insured, would have opportunities of taking low premium insurance products and coming to India and getting themselves treated. The phenomenon, which is happening today in terms of tourism, is going to change from tourism to a very organized healthcare destination process", explains Mr. Bali.

Once that happens, the Indian healthcare industry is expected to grow by 15% annually and could even cross two billion dollars in the next five years.