Canada has been lately in news for their lack of
timely healthcare services and this unfavourable development has also been
reported from its neighbour, the U.S. The delay in offering timely medical care
is due to several factors, but the main reason is
the lack of enough facilities and professionals to cater to huge masses of
patients.
The waiting period is a very common terminology
in the healthcare sector. It is the amount of time an individual spends waiting
to receive proper healthcare services. From scheduling an appointment to
receiving treatment, today, patients have to wait for a very long time to get
the right treatment for their illness.
Some of the time-consuming processes
Individuals seeking emergency medical treatment
have to wait in long queue for a specialist’s appointment.
The tests for diagnosing ailments can take up to
weeks to get completed.
The waits are extremely long for organ
transplants
Long waits to book an operation
Devastating effect of long waiting periods on patients
Doctors are supposed to offer medical assistance
to patients within 30 minutes of their arrival at the hospital or clinic, but
at many centres healthcare wait times extend for several hours. Long waits for
healthcare services can lead to the following adverse effects on patients -
Delay in diagnosis of an illness
Can lead to deterioration of the health
Additional expenses
Patients may give up on seeking treatment
Psychologically taxing. It can create anxiety and
stress in individuals
Mortality
Causes of long waiting periods for medical treatment
Incompatibility in supply and demand
Complex procedures for accessing care and
reimbursement
Use of outdated technology for scheduling
Geographical and financial constraints
Incompetent medical professionals
Going abroad for medical treatments
Medical tourism has gained immense popularity
over the years and this is mainly due to the fact that some countries offer
quick access to the best medical treatments. India has been the front runner in
offering quality medical care to foreigners. Medical assistance in India is the
best because patients can meet up with highly qualified doctors without long
waits. The government offers quick visas for individuals travelling to India
for seeking medical care.
People from all over the globe find medical
treatment costs in India very affordable and of top quality. In fact, studies
show that in India the medical costs are 30 percent fewer costs than in the
western countries. The country has several modern healthcare facilities which
house experienced medical professionals with various specializations. The
technology is cutting edge and these facilities offer immediate treatment for
heart attack, cancer, organ failure, infertility and other emergency
conditions.
Since English is the second official language in
India, patients from abroad will not find it difficult communicating the
caregivers in India. Being home to 5000-year-old medicine systems such as
Naturopathy, Ayurveda, and Yoga, India has made immense advancements in medicine.
All of these holistic approaches are equally favoured by foreign patients, along
with the modern medicine.
