With over 800 super-specialty, multi-specialty centers, nursing homes and clinics, Jalandhar has emerged as Asia’s biggest medicare hub. This is the largest on per capita basis in comparison with any other city in Asia.

Besides caring for people of Punjab, people suffering from serious ailments come here for treatment from J&K and western parts of Himachal Pradesh as well.

Around 40-45% of the patients coming here for treatment include NRIs from the USA, Canada, the UK, Italy, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Patients from Pakistan and Afghanistan have also started coming here for treatment. Cost factor is among the major reasons for the NRIs to come here for treatment. A medical procedure costing around Rs 10 lakh in Indian currency in the West does not cost them more than Rs 2 lakh here.

Dr SPS Virk, Scientific Director, Virk IVF Centre, said that the NRIs have the advantage of being able to talk to the doctor in their native language and get the support of their Punjab-based relatives. In comparison to the West, there is no waiting list for patients. Therefore, when it comes to medical tourism in India or Asia, Jalandhar becomes their first choice.

The leading factor that led to the emergence of Jalandhar as the medicare hub is the availability of quality medicare facilities at reasonable prices. The facilities pertain to cardiac ailments, in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, spinal surgery, cataract, dental, hip replacement and prostate problems. The Jalandhar unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has around 2,500 members on rolls in the city alone.

Dr Raman Chawla, Managing Director, Apex Hospital, said that there are more than 20 super-specialty hospitals situated within 2 km of Bhagwan Mahavir Marg, right from the BMC Chowk to Kapurthala Chowk. Bhagwan Mahavir Marg has the reputation of being the ‘Medicare Street’ of Punjab.

Dr Harish Bhardwaj, President, IMA (Jalandhar unit), said that the city started developing as a major medicare hub, not only in India but Asia as well, around 20 years ago when top professionals started establishing their multi-specialty and super-specialty centers in the city.

He added that there are nearly 3,000 members of the IMA in Jalandhar district. Around 2,500 of these are from the city and 250 of the 2,500 doctors are serving as government doctors.

Bone specialist Dr Jashneev Kapoor and his wife Dr Pooja Kapoor, a child specialist, said that there was no state-of-the-art equipment or technology that was not available in the city now. (The Tribune)