New AMA Guidelines on Medical Tourism

The AMA advocates that employers, insurance companies, and other entities that facilitate or incentivize medical care outside the U.S. adhere to the following principles:

(a) Medical care outside of the U.S. must be voluntary.

(b) Financial incentives to travel outside the U.S. for medical care should not inappropriately limit the diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives that are offered to patients, or restrict treatment or referral options.

(c) Patients should only be referred for medical care to institutions that have been accredited by recognized international accrediting bodies (e.g., the Joint Commission International or the International Society for Quality in Health Care).

(d) Prior to travel, local follow-up care should be coordinated and financing should be arranged to ensure continuity of care when patients return from medical care outside the US.

(e) Coverage for travel outside the U.S. for medical care must include the costs of necessary follow-up care upon return to the U.S.

(f) Patients should be informed of their rights and legal recourse prior to agreeing to travel outside the U.S. for medical care.

(g) Access to physician licensing and outcome data, as well as facility accreditation and outcomes data, should be arranged for patients seeking medical care outside the U.S.

(h) The transfer of patient medical records to and from facilities outside the U.S. should be consistent with HIPAA guidelines.

(i) Patients choosing to travel outside the U.S. for medical care should be provided with information about the potential risks of combining surgical procedures with long flights and vacation activities.

American Medical Association (AMA’s) Guidance on medical tourism

The AMA issued the following Press Release on June 16, 2008.
For the first time, the AMA has accepted the practicability of Medical Tourism.


Press Release Dated: June 16, 2008

CHICAGO — To ensure the safety of patients considering traveling abroad for medical care, new guiding principles on medical tourism (PDF, 20KB) were adopted today at the American Medical Association's (AMA) annual policy-making meeting. The nine principles are the first-of-its-kind, and outline steps for care abroad for consideration by patients, employers, insurers and third-parties responsible for coordinating travel outside of the U.S.


"Medical tourism is a small but growing trend among American patients, and it's unclear at this time whether the risks outweigh the benefits," said AMA Board Member J. James Rohack, MD. "Since this is uncharted waters, it is our hope that the AMA's new guidance on medical tourism will benefit patients considering traveling abroad for health care."


In 2006, an estimated 150,000 Americans received health care overseas, and nearly half of the procedures were for medically necessary surgeries. The emergence of medical tourism is in part a response to the rising cost of health care in the U.S., which puts needed health care out of reach for many, particularly those without health care coverage.

"We need to address the cost of care in the U.S. and cover the uninsured so that every American who needs health care can get it right here at home," said Dr. Rohack. "Until there is significant action at home, patients with limited resources may turn elsewhere for care. It is important that U.S. patients have access to credible information and resources so that the care they receive abroad is safe and effective."


The new AMA principles call for all medical care outside of the U.S. to be voluntary. They address financial incentives, insurance coverage for care abroad and care coordination. The principles also call for patients to be made aware of their legal rights prior to travel and to have access to physician licensing and facility accreditation information prior to travel.


"For those patients considering medical tourism, the new AMA principles are an important starting point for consideration before making the decision to go abroad for health care," said Dr. Rohack.


To ensure that insurance companies and others that facilitate medical tourism adhere to the new principles, the AMA will introduce model legislation for consideration of state lawmakers.


For additional information, please contact AMA Media Relations at:
(312) 239-4991 or (312) 464-5980

Medical Tourism in India

If you have decided to come to India for Medical Treatment, we are in a position to take care of all your needs and provide you the best single point care and attention.

Email us a brief note, giving your full name, address, contact details and summary of your ailments.

These details will be handed over to a General Practitioner. He will act as your coordinator for your medical treatment. You don't pay any thing for all this.

He will consult one or more appropriate specialists attached to leading hospitals.

The specialist opinion will be forwarded to you.

We will offer you a number of options indicating the duration, expenses, etc..

At any point, you can contact the G.P., our representative in your country, or any of us and discuss the matter through email, chat mode, or phone.

Go ahead with your treatment only after you are completely satisfied.

We are here to help you, guide you at every moment of your stay in India, and make your stay as comfortable as possible.

You can contact:

Dr. Binoy Gupta in India.
Dr. Navin Kumar Gupta in California.
Dr. Vikash Gupta in U.K.

Their phone numbers and other details will be given to you on hearing from you.

email: eleena100@hotmail.com