The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Where guest houses are teeming with medical tourists

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Where guest houses are teeming with medical tourists

Krishna Velupillai

A majority of people who come here are from West Bengal, Orissa and Assam

— Photo: M. Vedhan

Small comfort: A typical accommodation for middle-class medical tourists in Chennai.

CHENNAI: Enter the alleys in and around Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road and it is easy to forget that one is in Chennai. The shops and guest houses are teeming with people from various parts of the country.

For those who can afford it, five-star accommodation, organised by the hospital itself (or by travel agents), is available to suit any taste. But, for those with a middle-class income, things are much more difficult.

The owner of a mid-range guest house P.T. Ali said that a majority of Indians who came here were from West Bengal, Orissa and Assam. “Foreign nationals prefer to go for slightly more expensive places. The hospital generally organises this for them [foreigners],” he said.

S.K. Bhattacharya of Tripura, who is here along with his ailing wife, pointing to the basic room that he, his wife and son were occupying, said even this was proving to be too expensive. “I spend about Rs.750 a day just on accommodation. For the one month we have been here, we have had to spend around Rs. 2 lakh. Everything is about money. But, what can we do? We wanted quality treatment, so we came here,” he said.

Mr. Bhattacharya and his family get a bed, a television and a small kitchen with utensils for Rs.750 that he pays every day.

Aparna Mondal and her father-in-law Mukhtipada Mondal are from West Bengal. They live in an even smaller room. “My father-in-law is receiving treatment for high blood sugar and also his eyes. We found out that the treatment offered in Chennai was of high quality, so we came here. Once we came here it was not too difficult to find a place to stay. My nephew found this place for us, Ms. Aparna said, adding that she paid Rs.450 a day for their room.

A peep outside from Aparna’s balcony revealed many signboards offering travel arrangements and lodging for medical tourists like her. Going by the sheer number of people around, it seemed like business was good.

Down a less crowded street in Nungambakkam are a few, more discreet guesthouses. The reason for their existence is the nearby G.G. Hosp

ital. One of the guesthouse owners said that many of the occupants were Sri Lankans.

A Sri Lankan, who did not want to be named and who was taking treatment at the hospital, said she came here following reports that the healthcare facilities in Chennai were good. The young woman said that she preferred to stay at a guest house next to the hospital because it was cheaper and convenient.

Many foreign nationals staying in the city for treatment also seem to consider serviced apartments as an option for accommodation. Star City Serviced Apartments managing director Muruga Barathy said that at least 15 per cent of those staying in its facilities in five localities were those seeking medical treatment.

“Some stay for a few days and others, for months depending on the duration of their treatment,” Mr. Barathy said.

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