PROJECT REPORT ON MEDICAL TOURISM WITH REFERENCE TO INDIA
Origin and Evolution of Medical Tourism
Medical tourism is actually thousands of years old. In ancient Greece, pilgrims and patients came from all over the Mediterranean to the sanctuary of the healing god, Asklepios, at Epidaurus. In Roman Britain, patients took the waters at a shrine at Bath, a practice that continued for 2,000 years. From the 18th century wealthy Europeans travelled to spas from Germany to the Nile. Since the early nineteenth century, when there were no restrictions on travel in Europe, people visited neighboring countries in order to improve their health. At first, mere traveling was considered to be a good therapy for mental and physical well-being. In the 21st century, relatively low-cost jet travel has taken the industry beyond the wealthy and desperate. Later, mostly wealthy people began traveling to tourist destinations like the Swiss lakes, the Alps and special tuberculosis sanatoriums, where professional and often specialized medical care was offered. In this century, however, medical tourism expanded to a much larger scale. Thailand, followed by India, Puerto-Rico, Argentina, Cuba and others quickly became the most popular destinations for medical tourists. Complicated surgeries and dental works, kidney dialysis, organ transplantation and sex changes, topped the list of the most popular procedures. It was estimated that in 2002, six hundred thousand medical tourists came to Bangkok and Phuket medical centers in Thailand, while approximately one hundred and fifty thousand foreign patients visited India during that time. From Neolithic and Bronze age wherein people used to visit neighboring countries for Minerals and Hot Springs , Today we have reached the era where Hospitals are more like Spas and Spas more like hospitals.

Introduction to Medical Tourism
Medical tourism is