medical treatment or process:

• First of all, you must make sure that the hospital in India that you are visiting is licensed or not. It should have quality accreditation from any Quality Assurance Organization. The quality and the cost of the patient care are two other important considerations.
• Then, try to gather all the important details about the doctors at the hospital before you select them. Look up for their qualifications, credentials, and achievements
• Another important thing is that the patient should be well aware about the treatment and procedure that he/she is seeking so that your expectations from the surgery are realistic. He or she must also have knowledge about physical therapy, period of recovery, and post-surgery care.
• Do not forget to meet your doctor before the procedures start. Before anything, thorough personal examination and tests of the patients are done by most of the hospitals, before performing any medical process. There is also a possibility that the doctor might not consider you fit for the treatment and might also suggest another treatment after the diagnosis.
• Make a file or a folder of all the necessary documents along with their photocopy. Keep the originals at a safe place.
• Make another file of all the medical reports, and health records such as health history, X-rays, photograph, scans, MRI's immunization records, etc., that are related to the medical process.
• Make sure you have your Visa and Passport, along with other things like travelers' check, credit cards, debit cards, and yes, some local currency too.
• Carrying your driver's license, which is valid till the time of your travel is also necessary.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL VISA :

A medical visa is issued by the government of India to every medical tourist. This visa can be extended for over one year. A patient who gets this extension, he or she can visit India on medical tour in India, three times in a year, accompanied by an attendant.

VALIDITY OF VISA AND THE EXTENSION OF VISA

Medical Visa can be extended for a year by the FRROs or the State Government if the patients show the medical certificate or if the same is advised by recognized/reputed/specialized medical institutions in India. If there is a need for extension the Ministry of Affairs has the power to do this on recommendation of FRROs or the State Government, assisted by authentic and genuine medical papers. This kind of a visa is valid for a maximum of 3 visits to India in span of one year. Permission for one extra entry can also be given by FRRO/the State Government in the case of emergency situations.

FOLLOWING ARE THE PROCEDURES AND THE CONDITIONS FOR WHICH ONE CAN APPLY FOR A MEDICAL VISA TO INDIA :

• The Indian Posts/Mission can examine the medical papers in a careful manner to feel satisfied to look for the genuine reasons for which the medical treatment visa is being applied.
• The Mission may also be satisfied that the applicant (patient) has sought initial medical assistance in the country of his residence or country of origin and has been asked to seek special medical treatment. If any foreign national is interested in treatment through Indian system of Medicines, that is also possible.
• This kind of visa must be granted for getting medical assistance only at reputed/specialized/recognized hospitals in India. Though the following list is not complete but these can be some of the diseases such as ophthalmic disorders, renal disorders, neuro -surgery, joint replacement, plastic surgery, organ transplant and so on. The main idea is that the mission must be satisfied that the foreign national is in a serious need of medical treatment in India.