Reverse brain drain in medical field

With India emerging as a global hub for healthcare, more and more NRI doctors and specialists are evincing interest in taking up jobs back home.

"The reversal of brain drain is not restricted to the IT field alone. Specialists are increasingly showing interest in shifting their base to India from the US. This indicates the growth of India as a leader in the healthcare industry," Wockhardt Hospitals Group CEO Vishal Bali told the CII's fourth annual service quality conclave, here on Wednesday.

Bali pointed out that NRI doctors are sending their resume to corporate hospitals in India in greater numbers.

"India has many advantages and can grab a major chunk of the global healthcare market. There are more than 6 lakh doctors and specialists. Besides, the clinical talent has received global recognition. The medical costs are lower and we have to leverage on these advantages," he pointed out.

However, India is being challenged by other countries like Singapore and Thailand in terms of quality healthcare.

"No doubt India is emerging as a favoured destination for medical tourists. But other countries are equally capable. We have to maintain the edge through innovations in service," Bali added.

He emphasised the need to incorporate IT in the medical field. "Integrating care using IT with information flow will reduce the spending on healthcare. We need to build a database on quality healthcare like in Canada and the UK to overcome operational hurdles at the fundamental level," he stated.