North East Tourism

Embracing the best of dense jungles, ancient monasteries, snow-capped mountains, pristine valleys, glistening lakes, and cascading waterfalls, every bit of North East India feels like magic. Taking you one step closer to heaven. Northeast India, that is the seven “sister states” of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. 

Owing much to its remarkable location wherein North-East India shares its borders with the neighbouring countries of Tibet, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, the whole region is dominated by hills and mountains to a large degree. Due to this, the climate in North East India generally remains cool while winters do get extremely cold. 

India has grown as a prominent exporter of speciality health services in the world. India is known globally for its low cost and high-quality medical services. Indian medical tourism has emerged into the north eastern part of India gradually.  

Places to visit in Northeast India: 

A multitude of places to visit in Northeast India is a paradise for every person who is a traveller by heart. Adding to this coming down on a medical trip and getting to explore these places must find a space in your bucket list. India offers the cheapest rates for all surgical procedures like Oncology, Cardiac, Spinal, Cosmetic, Orthopedic, Gynecology, Urology, Dental and Transplant Surgery as compared to countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Northeast India can provide even more cheaper. 

Sikkim 

This small state should be a part of your itinerary, no matter how many days you’ve to spare. Go for camping at Goecha La, explore the Valley of Flowers in Yumthang or simply unravel yourself. Several places to visit in Sikkim like the popular Tsomgo and Pemayangste Monastery will drive you to revisit. 

Darjeeling 

Home to picturesque tea estates, Himalayan Darjeeling Railway, serene monasteries and Mount Kanchenjunga in the backdrop. That’s Darjeeling for you! Trekking to the Tiger Hills, and many more wonderful places enchanting you to its scenic beauty. 

Assam 

Amongst the rest of the holiday destinations in India, Assam features rich flora and fauna. Besides its scenic tea estates which sprawl over a huge area, the state captivates visitors for a feel-good vibe. One-horned rhinoceros are not just the pride of Kaziranga but also of the entire state itself.In recent years, Guwahati has become a new destination of health services. Guwahati has advantage of language over other parts of India as well as adjacency with the growing market of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and some part of Nepal. 

Arunachal Pradesh 

Arunachal Pradesh flaunts nature’s munificence. The ethereal beauty of Tawang Monastery, the largest in India adds to the charm of the already beautiful destination. Then there is Namdapha National Park, Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary, Parshuram Kund and so much more to explore. 

Meghalaya 

Boasting of having Mawlynnong – Asia’s cleanest village, Meghalaya is truly mystical. Popular as the ‘Abode of Clouds’, the place has so much in store for everybody. Caves, peaks, living root bridges, the wettest place on Earth share space with lakes and other attractions here. 

 Manipur 

Adorned with natural marvels, Manipur mesmerizes with several incredible experiences. Truly a succinct gem in the heart of Northeast India, the places gives you many reasons to explore it till your heart’s content. From native games, majestic hills, rich culture to martial arts, you can find them all here. Nowhere else you can cherish the experience to shop in a market run wholly and only by women. 

 Nagaland 

Home to different tribes, Nagaland is as inviting as the other places to visit in Northeast India. Once here, you will be glad to meet the warm, amicable and curious people. For avid holidaymakers, the exciting options abound here. Indulging in bird watching, trekking, wildlife safaris is an absolute must here. Northeast India is the only place in the world where health and medical tourism agencies can be blended to mix well. Tea gardens in Assam and Darjeeling are magnificent places not only for nature lovers but also for health and wellness, yoga and naturopathy, etc. 

Overall, northeast India is gaining attraction of foreign and domestic investors under the Act East Policy. Medical tourism has the potential to bring huge investment in Northeast India and generate jobs 

Advancement of Laser Eye Surgery in India

India has been one among the countries in the core of medical tourism. Medical treatment in India has since been evolving constantly. One of the earlier developments was that of eye care and treatments in the ophthalmological scenario. The direction of advancements in medicine have been towards non-invasive procedures that can reduce the extent of interference with surgical tools and therefore the cost. It is also impactful on the recovery process as there are minimal or no scars. Though the aforementioned progress has happened for common eye problems as a whole, commendable growth is seen in corrective surgeries rather than eye infection treatments.  

One notable achievement in this regard is LASIK and other laser-based eye surgeries. The first excimer eye treatment was carried out in 1987. It brought in faster healing time and less painful experience. It has evolved over the years to various laser-assisted eye surgeries.  

LASIK stands for LAser in SItu Keratomileusiosis. It is performed to treat farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. It is a refractive surgery where the cornea is reshaped to enable better focusing of the light. It is a painless procedure that can be performed over a short period of time. Further, LASIK surgery provides a permanent remedy for vision correction. However, if there are changes in the lens inside the eye, a need for vision correction could arise. ‘LASIK’ has become a general term to denote all laser-based eye surgeries.  

LASIK can be availed by individuals with refractive errors. Unusual vision problems cannot be cured by LASIK. Recipient of the vision correction intervention will be tested for the suitability of the procedure. If LASIK is not a suitable option, there are other corrective surgeries like Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy (LASEK), etc.  

Though this intervention has been around for some time, other laser eye surgeries that are non-invasive, have been developed.  

A recent innovation on the block is the ReLEx SMILE surgery. A minimally invasive and bladeless keyhole laser eye procedure, ReLEx SMILE was introduced in 2012. Since then it has been a popular alternative to both LASEK and LASIK treatments. SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. It helps in correcting higher degrees of short sightedness as well as astigmatism. This method is suitable for people who cannot undergo the traditional methods of surgery.  

There are many experts in the area of laser-based eye treatment. Clients who want to approach such a procedure should consult appropriately, before zeroing in on the right treatment. It is to be kept in mind that, these procedures do not warrant for the use of anesthetics. While the latest developments have made the treatment minimally invasive, it is better to be well-informed on the process. This ensures that the recipient is not taken aback during the procedure.  

The best way to approach a laser eye surgery is to get extensive details. Second opinions, reviews of recipients, the experiences of friends or family all can go a long way in helping on decide. An easy way out to collect information is seeking the help of a medical tourism organisation. They can support with valid information on cost and other expenses, the right hospitals and doctors and other information. India is one of the countries in the forefront, when it comes to medical interventions. The latest advancements in laser eye treatment is no exception. Get the right information before you take the big leap towards better vision.   

World Hepatitis Day 2019: An Overview

World Hepatitis Day is observed on 28th July every year to spread the awareness on Hepatitis. The inflammation of the liver is termed as 'Hepatitis'. Despite the campaigns and programs that happen worldwide, there are still 300 million in the globe who are unaware that they are suffering from hepatitis. There are five types of hepatitis, but the commonly known are Hepatitis A, B and C.  

Hepatitis Symptoms and Treatment 

The symptoms of Hepatitis include fatigue, loss of appetite, pale stools, abdominal pain, yellow eyes and skin. These symptoms are not given much of a concern as it is confused with other medical conditions. So, medical professionals focus on treating the symptoms than actually the disease. There is a need for proper diagnosis and testing to determine the incidence of hepatitis. 

Blood tests help in determining whether hepatitis is resultant from viral infections or other reasons. Hepatitis A and E are typically caused due to the consumption of contaminated food and water. The presence of Hepatitis E in pregnant women is found to be dangerous. Hepatitis B, C and D are caused by direct contact or transmission through the body fluids. 

Hepatitis A (Hep A) is the acute condition which mostly do not need treatments. But its symptoms such as nausea and vomiting may cause dehydration in individuals. In such cases, IV fluids might be recommended by the doctor. Medication will be needed if it progresses to severe condition. After the patient recovers from the Hep A, they generally become immune lifelong to hepatitis. There is Hep A vaccine to protect individuals from this condition. 

Hepatitis B and C are the inflammatory conditions of the liver which are known to be dangerous. Hepatitis B vaccine is the only way to prevent the contraction of Hep B. It is the type of hepatitis which does not have a cure. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends one shot of Hep B,12 hours after birth to protect the baby from the exposure to Hep B virus. 

There are no vaccines existing for Hep C. It is cured in 20-25 percent of the cases through anti-viral medications. In others it tend to develop it into chronic stages which may result in liver failure or cirrhosis. For these complications such as liver damage and dysfunction of the liver there are treatments that can be taken. 

  

Hepatitis & India 

Hepatitis C can lead to chronic conditions such as cirrhosis and inflict severe damage to the liver. In that case, there might be a need for a liver surgery. It could be the restoration of the damaged portion of the liver or else a complete replacement.  

In India, liver transplant surgery is one of the successful transplant surgeries. There is a 90 percent survival rate (Source: Apollo Hospitals) associated with this transplant. The cost and quality of medical treatment in India attracts abundant patients for liver-related treatments. The health tourism in India has plenty of players to aid the patients in choosing the best hospital for the treatment and care.