New Delhi - The Government of India has set a new rule of issuing of visa liberally for medical treatment for foreign nationals, since the Indian doctors are recognized to be as efficient as foreign doctors. Moreover medical treatment in India is quite cheap and affordable.

Most of the doctors in India are foreign educated in their specializations and that is the secret of heavy demands of the Indian Doctors everywhere.  Since India has raised the standard of their medical treatment at par with foreign countries in recent years with high salaries to them, the demand of treatment of foreign patients in India has since enhanced.

The cost of treatment in India is much cheaper and reasonable even after including the cost of air travels at both ends, from their country to India and back. This has been done in view of the increasing patients, who wish to come to India for various treatments from all over the world and they feel fully satisfied.

Normally, the treatment in India, which the foreigners seek, includes neuro-surgery, heart problems, congenital diseases, organ transplants, ophthalmic care, gene therapy, plastic surgery, joint replacement, renal diseases, dental treatment, eyes treatment and many more. In short, it includes almost all-serious diseases.

In fact, this has opened another window of dollar earning in health business for which India enjoys high reputation, since almost all doctors are foreign qualified. To ease visa, the Government has given its final go.

This visa shall also be available to patients and their attendants from Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

All patients, who wish to get treatment from India, are to get them registered in a hospital or the Clinic within 14 days of their arrival. The visa is in the initial stage for one year, extendable for further period on the recommendation of the hospital or clinic where undergoing treatment.

However, patients will have to seek permission from the ministry for their extension, if they require extension for a third consecutive year.

Under the new medical visa rules, patients will be permitted to bring two attendants along with them, spouse and a blood relation. They will be given the privilege of changing their attendants twice a year.

A number of changes have also been made in visa rules for foreign students, they will be allowed to pursue any course without restriction, except nationals from Pakistan, China and Bangladesh.

According to an official from the Education Ministry:

"We have removed all restrictions on the number of courses foreign students want to pursue. This has been done to help them finish their full education in one go without seeking visa again after finishing one course. They are simply to seek permission from the local FRRO to stay on to track or switchover to another course."