Obesity Surgery Medical Value Travelers from Zimbabwe to India
Obesity surgery: Advantage India
Obesity is a complex medical condition that occurs when an individual has too much body fat. Often, this medical condition is associated with a lower life expectancy and a reduced quality of life, including the physical limitations, fatigue and body pain. Obesity surgery can help you lose as much as 85 percent or more of your excess weight and often have a huge impact on your overall health.
When you struggle with weight issues, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by your weight loss options and be dismayed by setbacks. Many people have heard of obesity or bariatric surgery. You may also be familiar about the gastric bypass, lap band surgery or the sleeve gastrectomy.
Medical research, education and technology in India are quite advanced. In the area of obesity surgery, India has excellent medical service facilities and the doctors use the most advanced techniques & surgical options. India can now claim to offer comprehensive obesity surgeries to cater not only to the domestic population but also to the international patients.
Obesity surgeons in India have been educated at the premier institutes in India; following their education, they underwent specialized training in well known institutes around the world. Having brought their know-how back to India, these surgeons have been offering the best treatments to patients from all around the world.
Special Services for Zimbabve Patients
Special and individualized care – We ensure fast and efficient services, which include immediate diagnostic and treatment procedures with no waiting lists. There is 24/7 staff for full patient support services, who are well trained to handle the most complex situations. Depending on the urgency, there are special consultations for scans, clinical investigations organized for Zimbabwean medical tourists. Even if you are not insured, we ascertain that you are equally benefitted; and we don’t need any doctor’s referral to cater to you. We attend each and every Zimbabwean with supreme care and patience.
Special packages – One thing that comes into consideration and is obviously very crucial while choosing a treatment destination, is the cost factor. We understand this and ensure that our patients are happy and supremely satisfied with the pricing of the treatments and procedures, they are looking for. We specially offer very cost effective packages for medical tourists from Zimbabwe; customize the packages keeping in mind that patients are coming from all sections of the society.
Free second opinion – When it comes to illness and related procedures, certainly there can be some doubts in your mind; regarding the proficiency of the doctor or about the clinical investigation. So that you have no doubts regarding these factors and have full trust in us, we can arrange for free second opinion in our empanelled hospitals. This will surely help in clearing your dilemma and cement the trust in our relationship further.
Language Assistance – It is very important that the medical personnel are capable of handling this language issue, as health issues need to be communicated accurately and in a very detailed manner. So, we look after this issue by arranging expert translators/interpreters so that the requirements of our Zimbabwean friends reach the doctor properly and vice versa.
Quick visa assistance – We make the visa process absolutely uncomplicated and hassle free. Our 24/7 visa assistance is at your disposal to look after all your queries and needs related to visa. We make it as simple as possible so that there is no time wastage, keeping in mind your health issues and the associated urgency.
Logistics Support – We are with you right from the moment you arrive at the airport. Our staff is there to receive the medical tourists at the airport, ensure that the guesthouse/hotel is perfect for the travelers. Further, we monitor your admission formalities and keep a detailed track your treatment process at the hospital – either in person or over phone – as and when required. Also, we provide regular medical updates about you to the sponsor of the treatment such as, the insurance agency, charity organization, your employer, etc.
Special food – Every health issue, its treatment and the suggested procedure comes along with its own dietary schedule and restrictions. We make sure that the food issues and such restrictions are well taken care of, ensuring your good health. We have special tie-ups with local food chains; customized diet plans are proffered keeping in mind speedy recovery and for better outcomes for the Zimbabwean patients.
Follow up services – After any treatment/procedure, the most important phase is the follow up. Without this, the procedure is considered incomplete and can lead to a relapse. Follow up is important both for the patient as well as the doctor/surgeon. We ensure that there are no obstacles or interruptions in this phase and organize follow up services even after the patient is back in his own country, after his successful treatment in India.
Clinical camps – In order to create awareness about various health issues as well as to provide free and easily accessible services, clinical camps are organized in Zimbabwe. There are doctors and assistant staff available in such camps to guide Zimbabweans regarding many health issues and associated precautions.
Critical shortage of expert medical staff in Zimbabwe
Even though basic healthcare and reproductive healthcare are guaranteed in the constitution of Zimbabwe, the ground reality is opposite. Zimbabwe faces shortage of medical staff due to neglect and underfunding. The best medical staff has emigrated. The remainder medical staff does not have adequate medical facilities to even provide the basic healthcare needs for the ailing population in the country. Shortage of medical experts in Zimbabwe means that they have to look for critical Obesity treatments in hospitals in India.
Obesity surgery patients from Zimbabwe to India
Patients from Zimbabwe have been traveling abroad for medical treatments for years. Many travel to neighboring African countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, etc.; some travel to countries as far away as India, Singapore, Dubai, etc. India has received several thousand medical value travelers from Zimbabwe since 2010. The lower cost of healthcare in India compared to US and South Africa is the main aspect that attracts Zimbabweans to travel to India. A surgery could cost as little as 30% in India as it would in South Africa.
The growth potential of medical value travel business from Zimbabwe visiting India for Neuro surgical procedures can be estimated. Obesity surgical procedures remain one of the top procedures for which international patients travel to India. If 2,000 Zimbabweans would visit India every year, out of that, about 200 would be visiting for Obesity surgeries alone. Presently, over 10,000 patients travel to South Africa for their various treatments from Zimbabwe. Cost and quality advantages are with India and medical value travel providers and hospitals in India are, therefore, giving South African hospitals a run for their money. Several thousand Zimbabweans have traveled to India for their medical value travel since 2010.
The hospitals and medical staff in India have the right expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to conduct the Obesity surgeries. Zimbabwe faces critical shortage of expert doctors. Therefore, Zimbabweans need to travel abroad to seek treatments for their Obesity surgeries. Zimbabweans travel to neighboring African countries primarily; for example in 2010 nearly 17,000 travelled to South Africa. The cost of complex surgeries is about 3 times higher in South Africa compared to that in India. Indeed, several thousand Zimbabweans have traveled to India for their medical treatment since 2010. Further growth potential is huge. A concerted effort by Indian Hospitals, Medical Value Travel providers along with Ministry of Health and Child care in Zimbabwe would be necessary. India has the right attributes: expert doctors, advanced equipment and most importantly low cost to ensure more Zimbabweans travel to India for Obesity surgeries and other procedures.
About Indian Hospitals
India offers some of the best medical treatments in the world. The private hospitals in India have excellent reputation and our healthcare sector has sustained enormous boom in recent years. Despite the prejudices about healthcare in developing countries, rest assured that the obesity surgery hospitals in India are at the forefront of medical technology and are well equipped with the modern state of the art technology and highly qualified and experienced bariatric obesity surgeons. Indian doctors are considered the best in the world with the high level of surgical expertise that evolves from many years of training.
Hygiene in private hospitals in India is excellent and the Malawi patients seeking cardiac surgery are screened for HIV and Hbs Ag antibodies to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases and incidence of MRSA is minimal. The operation theatres have laminar air flow installed and gaining the ISO9001 standardisation, a voluntary standardisation run b a nongovernmental body where the hospitals must pass rigorous tests to be certified is increasingly becoming popular in the hospitals and the clinics.
Chiemeka Orji, a native of Zambia undergoes Buccal Fat Extraction in India
“I always had a tendency to put on weight very easily. However when I passed my teens I started keeping check on what I had and made sure of following a healthy lifestyle. This helped me reduce weight significantly but my face still had excess fat. As nothing helped me achieve a well sculpted face I decided to undergo surgery that could help me get rid of my double chin and excess cheeks. Zambia however is not very advanced in terms of cosmetic surgery and thus I was determined to undergo the same in some other country. In my research of finding an ideal country for my surgery, I came across the website of Cosmetic and Obesity Surgery Hospital India. The packages offered by them covered almost all the services at an affordable price and thus I finally decided to proceed with them.”
“With the help of Cosmetic and obesity surgery hospital India I underwent Buccal Extraction Surgery. The results of the surgery were extraordinary and I couldn’t stop smiling after seeing them from my own eyes. Now I can say that I have a well sculpted face and can be confident about the same.”
“I thank the entire team of Cosmetic and Obesity Surgery Hospital India, for conducting such a hustle free treatment by making all the necessary arrangements here in India. It is because of their service that I dint had to worry about my VISA, hotel accommodation, and booking appointment with the best cosmetic surgeon. And I would say that more than the service it is the compassion and warmth that I am more thankful for.”
Medical Visa Information for Patients from Zimbabwe to India
One would need a medical visa if he/she is travelling to India for his/her treatment. The availability, criteria and eligibility of getting a medical visa matters. Hence we provide all the information about the medical visa lest it becomes tricky or confusing.
The High Commission of India, Harare in Zimbabwe, the primary considerations to grant a medical visa includes the serious ailments such as cardiac problems, congenital disorders, neurosurgery, joint replacements, plastic surgery, renal disorders, organ transplantation, ophthalmic disorders, and radiotherapy and gene therapy. The list of treatments is non-exhaustive.
- The sole purpose of travel should be undergoing medical treatment in India.
- The applicant should seek medical treatments at reputed/specialized/recognized hospitals in India.
- Two medical attendants are allowed to travel with the patient which could be his/her family members, associated or relatives.
Documents required for submission of Visa Application to India for Zimbabwean nationals
- Online registered/duly filled in Visa application form signed by the applicant.
- One photographs conforming to specifications and photo may be uploaded during registration.
- Return air tickets and copy of applicants Passport along with the original Passport.
- Letter from the local hospital/doctor and/or Certificate from doctor/hospital after examination of the patient’s condition, requirements and availability of the treatment in India. Complete copies of treatment record from the local hospital.
- Letter from the Indian hospital showing the name of patient & attendant and estimate medical treatment cost, which must also be mailed by the hospital authorities to Embassy’s mail box consembindia.org.zw.
- If the patient is on Medical aid and letter from Medical Aid Society confirming patient’s admissibility for medical treatment in India and Guarantee from the Medical Aid society for the treatment expenses and proof of fund transfer to India.
- Latest Bank statement. The Account’s statement should be certified by the bank and must indicate applicant’s full name & address showing enough funds to conduct the trip.
- In case of someone else bank-statement, please enclose the affidavit of the person sponsoring the expenses along with the copy of the photo identity card / passport bearing the ink-signed signature of the sponsor.
- Proof of relationship of attendant accompanying the patient and/or a letter indicating relationship.
- A separate letter giving full details of previous visits to India, including periods of stay.
- If a third party is sponsoring the patient and attendant, then please enclose the affidavit of the person sponsoring the expenses along with the copy of the photo identity card / passport bearing the ink-signed signature of the sponsor and his bank attested bank-statement. The affidavit should clearly mention the relation and/or reason for sponsoring the patient and attendant and the Sponsor should take all responsibility for the conduct & return from India of the sponsored persons.
- Third party sponsoring is not allowed for terminal illness treatment.
- Visa fee in Cash/USD
Before applying for visa, please ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of your application.
Visa invitation letter
When you are applying for a medical visa, a visa invitation letter is required. A visa invitation letter is a formal document that is sent to the patient from the Indian hospital that sanctions his/her medical treatment in that hospital in India.
This also serves the purpose of a proof that the patient has indeed contacted with Indian hospital and will be having his or her treatment there. The visa invitation letter consists of the patient details, details of his/her ailment, treatment procedure and duration of the treatment involved. Hence it is an important and mandatory document required during the application and for the sanction of a medical visa to the patient.
Embassy Information
Mr. S. Rajendran
Designation: Commercial Officer
Phone No: 00263 4 795955, 00263 4 704670
Email ID: hoc@embindia.org.zw
Address: No. 12, Natal Road Belgravia, Post Box 4620, Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone no: 00263-4-795955 - 56, 792523
Fax: 00263-4-795958, 795413
Email ID: ambassadoroffice@embindia.org.zw
Emergency Numbers
Phone: 00263-4-795955
Mobile: 00263-772125327
Vaccination
Travelers visiting India must possess a valid "Yellow Fever Vaccination" card if they are transiting or have transited through a Yellow Fever Zone.
- Flight & Travel from Zimbabwe to India
- Harare, Zimbabwe (HRE) to Mumbai, India (BOM)
- Bulawayo, ZI (BUQ) to New Delhi, IN (DEL)
- Harare, Zimbabwe (HRE) to Chennai, IN (MAA)
- Harare, Zimbabwe (HRE) to Bangalore, IN (BLR)
Common Flights to Zimbabwe to India
Other Common Procedure for Which Zimbabwe Patients Come to India are
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