infospace india

Friday, March 21, 2008

News dailys

Ancient India

A RECENT TREND has shown that people from developed countries are seeking treatment from the health professionals from developing countries. This preferential shift is broadly termed as ‘Medical Tourism’. The most important reason is the rising cost of medical care in developed countries. One wonders why people travel all the way to these nations, leaving behind the comfort of their superior technology. Well, it’s the cost factor that is six to ten times less in the countries where these health tourists decide to go.
It is very difficult to say when exactly medical tourism began. However, medical tourism, as a concept, has been there for quite a few years. Medical tourists are people from the industrialized and developed nations such as USA, Europe, Australia and The Middle East. These nations have either free medical treatment for their citizens or the citizens are covered under medical insurance. In case of free medical treatment in Great Britain, Canada and many Middle East countries, waiting period for the desired treatment is so long that many patients do not survive the date their turn comes.
In other places, such as USA, where people are covered under medical insurance, the cost of treatment is so high that the Insurance Companies charge a high premium from the insurance seeker. Health insurance in USA is the responsibility of the employer for whom the people work. That is a limiting factor. According to a report, 40 million Americans do not have health insurance. Apart from this, private healthcare is too costly.
In contrast, these treatments requiring high medical expertise are available in developing countries at much lower costs. There are many other factors that have given added advantage to medical tourism. The first and foremost among them is the low airfare and the emerging trend of the economy of developing nations to cater to the needs of the developed nations. The reverse brain drain is another factor. People who went to developed nations to make their careers are getting back to their roots. After coming back they are gaining importance in terms of respect and incentives.
Currently, medical tourists are traveling in large numbers to India, the East Indies, South America and South East Asia. These countries offer numerous options for tourism, sightseeing, shopping and exploration. Although these countries are currently the most popular choices for medical tourism, the industry is growing so rapidly that more and more countries are offering greater choice in healthcare tourism. It is expected that the destinations for medical tourism will grow with each passing day.
India is one of the most attractive destinations in the world for medical tourists. The main aim of Indian medical industry is low-cost treatment. According to the estimates, treatment costs in India start at around one-tenth of the price in America or in Britain. In fact, no country has been in the news for medical tourism more than India in 2005-06. The heart surgery and hip resurfacing are areas in which India is reckoned as a global leader.
People from different walks of life cut across America, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Europe, Maldives, Germany and many more countries come to India to get treatment. Indian medical fraternity have expertise in the areas of Cosmetic surgery, Dental care, Heart surgeries, Coronary Bypass surgery, Valve replacements, Knee replacements, Eye surgeries and Indian traditional treatments like Ayurvedic therapies. They practically cover every aspect of medicine, combining modern methods of treatment with the traditional ones.
India gears to be a “global health destination" by 2012. However, there are some areas for improvement. Ten years ago, medical tourism in India was hardly worthwhile. This year, approximately half a million foreign patients are expected to travel to India for medical care, which is a big leap forward from the 2002 figure of 150,000.
In monetary terms, experts estimate that medical tourism could bring India as much as $2.2 billion per year, by 2012. Argentina, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, South Africa, Jordan, Malaysia, Hungary, Latvia and Estonia all have broken into this lucrative market as well, or are trying to do so and more countries are joining the list every year.
Surely, the future for medical tourism is bright. If travel can provide good health without making holes in the pockets, then nothing is better than medical tourism.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

WILDLIFE SAFARI PACKAGES
India is unique in the richness and diversity of its vegetation and wildlife. Almost 350 mammal species, over a thousand and two hundred species of birds in nearly 2100 forms and more than 30,000 species of insects - provide evidence to the wealthiness of wildlife in India Besides, there are a number of species of fish, amphibians and reptiles. With over 4.5% its geographical area covered by more than 75 national parks and 425 sanctuaries, the range and diversity of India's wildlife heritage matches the grandeur and magnificence of her civilization.
India's national parks and wild life sanctuaries (including bird sanctuaries) from Laddakh in Himalayas to Souther tip of Tamil Nadu. These parks, reserves, sanctuaries and forests are vital to the conservation of endangered species, such as Bengal tiger, the Asiatic Elephant, Lion, the Snow Leopard and Siberian Crane. India's first national park, the Corbett was established in the foothills of Himalayas. It supports a great variety of mammals and over 585 species of birds. The Wild Elephant population is on the increase and both tiger and leopard are regularly seen.
Kanha National Park is the largest of the original tiger reserves. The park is noted for its local herd of swamp deer. Also in Kaziranga is found a species of the swamp deer found in Kanha A third subspecies (and the largest population) of swamp deer is at the Dudhwa National Park in the northeastern UP.
The magnificent bird sanctuary at Bharatpur Provides a vast breeding area for the native water birds. During the winters (November-March) migratory birds arrive in large numbers, including the Siberian Crane. In the Indian deserts, the most discussed bird is the Great Indian bustard. In western Himalayas, one can see birds like Himalayan monal pheasant, western tragopan, koklass, white crested khalij cheer pleasant, griffon vultures, lammergiers, choughs, ravens. In the Andaman and Nicobar region, about 250 species and sub species of birds are found, such as rare Narcondum hornbill, Nicobar pigeon and megapode. Here are also other birds like white-bellied sea eagle, white breasted swiftlet and several fruit pigeons. All these could be observed in Andaman's 6 national parks and over ninety wildlife sanctuaries.
The Himalayas (foothills) are known for big mammals like elephant, sambar, swamp, deer, cheetal, wild boar tiger, panther, hyena, black bear and sloth bear, porcupine, Great Indian one horned rhinoceros, wild buffalo, gagetic gharial, golden langur. Wild ass, sheep, deers, smaller mammals, snow leopards, wolf, cats and brown beers are in plenty in the western Himalayas. While the national park and sanctuaries of northern and central India are better known, there are quite a few parks and sanctuaries in South India, too, e.g. , Madumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Nagahole National Park in Karnataka.
A tour of Indian wildlife sanctuaries and national parks is a fabulous travelmasti. Contrary to the experiences of African Safari, the vegetation and terrain in India is such that wild animals are often solitary or in small herds, elusive and shy. The thick forest and dense grassland with openings for streams and rivers, provide the cover for Indian wildlife.
Unlike the situation prevailing over a decade or two ago, Wildlife Safari in India now facilitates seeing a tiger, a rhinoceros or a herd of wild elephant. Ranges of Safari Packages are an offer, courtsey the tourism departments of states as well as tour and travel agencies. These Safari / Safari Packages are unique and unparalleled. The kind of diversity. Indian wildlife can boast off is not available anywhere else in the world. The great Himalayan Mountains, forests, national parks, sanctuaries (including bird sanctuaries) - all constitute a terrific travelmasti.
List of Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks
Andhra Pradesh Nagarjunasagar - Srisailam Sanctuary
Arunachal Pradesh Namdapha National Park
Assam Kaziranga National Park Manas Tiger Reserve
Gujarat Rann of Kutch ( Wild Ass )
Ratan Mahal Sloth Bear
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
Gir National Park Velavadar
Black Buck National Park
Himachal Pradesh Great Himalayan National Park