Its world-class medical facilities have made Ludhiana popular among NRIs living in Western countries. With city-based hospitals receiving around 100 NRI patients every month, doctors claim that there has been a 20% yearly increase in their number.
Medical superintendent of Apollo hospital Kapil Chib said, ''As many as 15 to 20 NRI patients visit the hospital every month and their number increases during winters.''
Explaining its reason, he added, ''The national health system in the UK is quite complicated, while treatments in the USA and Canada are very expensive. NRIs come here as they get best facilities at cheaper rates. The treatments that cost about Rs 2 lakh in the city entail over Rs 20 lakh in the Western countries.'' Their footfall started increasing after the Apollo hospital achieved Joint Commission International accreditation. It was a US-based accreditation body dedicated to improving healthcare quality and safety around the world, he claimed.
Christian Medical Dental College principal AB Thomas and Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) officiating medical superintendent Nitin Batra said more than 150 NRI patients visited the hospital in the last six months. And, many of those visiting the OPD gave their local addresses, they added.
CMCH cardiologist Harinder Singh Bedi said most of the NRIs visiting the cardiac department came for endo-vascular surgery. ''An important reason for their coming here is satisfaction of getting good treatment in their home town at reasonable rates,'' he added. Cardiologist at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital GS Wander said more than six such patients visited him every month for endo-vascular surgery. ''Other departments of the hospital, too, see them, most of whom are elderly,'' he added.
A 26-year-old woman from Sydney said she was suffering from AV malformation in leg. ''Though I was operated upon in Australia, it hardly helped. Then, a surgeon in Sydney referred me to CMC hospital, which has cured my ailment.''
As reported in: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/Citys-robust-medical-facilities-attract-NRIs/articleshow/9203840.cms