It’s destination Pune for Mumbai patients

Beleaguered by long commutes, waits at hospitals in state capital, patients prefer to take treatment in city

It's destination Pune for Mumbai patients

Beleaguered by long commutes, waits at hospitals in state capital, patients prefer to take treatment in city

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Mumbai may be gaining international repute as a hub for medical tourism, but for Mumbaikars, the preferred choice for treatment is Pune.

Cheap and the best: Doctors and patients say that the treatment in the city is cheaper by 10 to 20 per cent, which is luring people in.
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Why not, when they can avail of the same facilities at cheaper rates in the city.

Doctors and patients said treatment in the city is cheaper by 10 to 20 per cent, which is luring people.

Take Mumbai resident Vidya Gobde (40) from Bhandup for example. Weighing 146 kgs, the mother of two underwent a bariatric surgery in a hospital in Andheri. For post surgical complications, she was admitted to the same hospital for six days.

"I was shocked when I saw a bill of Rs 60,000. The hospital there had lot of hidden costs and conducted unnecessary tests," she complained. Hence two months later, when she developed the same complication and needed hospitalisation, she took a decision to come to the city.

"I was admitted to a Pune hospital for eight days and my bill was less than Rs 20,000. In fact instead of a twin sharing room like in Mumbai, I was able to afford a single room," she said.

Bariatric surgeon Dr Shashank Shah has many patients travelling from Mumbai to Pune to avail of cheaper surgeries.

"If I had to conduct a bariatric surgery in Mumbai, the cost would be Rs 5 lakh, while in a hospital having similar repute in the city with similar facilities, the same would cost Rs 4 lakh," he said.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Parasnis said that though money was a big factor, patients also opted for Pune as it offered better facilities.

"In the city, patients can easily opt for five-star treatment at rates of two-star in Mumbai. For the same costs, one can afford to have a deluxe room and it covers stay for relatives, their food, post-operation recovery, among others, which is a tough deal to get in Mumbai," he said.

Director of IVF Clinic at Ruby Hall hospital, Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar said that though infertility treatments cost just a fraction less than in Mumbai, many patients still chose to come here.

"Many of my patients have told me that they are tired of long commutes in Mumbai and prefer to rent a place in the city and travel everyday for infertility treatment. They also get tired of long waits at the clinics there," she said.

Mulund-based housewife Archana Tiwari (name changed) whose husband works as vice-president in a multi-national company said that money was no factor when it came to choosing Pune over Mumbai.

"I was fed up of travelling from Mulund to South Mumbai every alternate day, waiting for hours at the clinic as my doctor flitted from one hospital to another. I came to Pune and hired a service apartment. I reached the hospital in no time and almost never had to wait. Maybe I conceived, as I was relaxed," she said.

Long commutes and endless waiting hours at clinics is a common reason for many patients making the shift.
Oral cancer patient Deepak Deendayal, who hails from Udaipur, underwent chemotherapy in Mumbai. He owns a flat in Kandivli's Thakur Complex but was soon fed up.

"My daily commute by taxi cost me Rs 600 and took four hours. I was fed up and shifted to Pune though I didn't have a house here. Now it takes me 15 minutes to reach the hospital and costs merely Rs 40," he said.

He is on a six-week radiation therapy regime with Dr Sumeet Basu, chief radiation oncologist at Ruby Hall hospital.

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