Zydus Hospital in Ahmedabad has become a leading destination for international patients, particularly from Eastern and Southern Africa, offering advanced medical care at significantly lower costs than in their home countries. Over the past three years, the number of international patients has doubled, driven by outreach programs, teleconsultations, and word-of-mouth referrals.
Outreach and Accessibility
Zydus organizes regular health camps in countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Uganda, and Uzbekistan, where doctors from multiple specialties consult with local patients. Hundreds of patients travel to India for procedures, with more than half coming from Tanzania and Kenya alone. The hospital provides fixed packages covering consultations, travel visas, airport transfers, accommodation, and documentation, making the process seamless.
Comprehensive Specialties
The hospital is a hub for advanced care in neurology, gastrointestinal surgery, urology, gynecology, oncology, spine surgery, cosmetic and plastic surgery, nephrology, and ENT. It specializes in joint replacement (including robotic and revision surgeries), complex spine surgeries, and cancer treatments such as bone marrow transplants. Many patients also visit for routine screenings and health check-ups.
Expert Insights
Dr. Nahush Tahiliani, Medical Oncologist at Zydus Cancer Hospital, noted, “Because these patients often travel with limited time and immense emotional and financial stakes, our goal is to move from arrival to definitive treatment initiation within 72 to 96 hours.” He added that in-house availability of targeted therapies, immunotherapies, robotic surgeries, and advanced radiation techniques yields excellent outcomes with economic feasibility.
Dr. Niraj Vasavada, Senior Spine Surgeon, recalled treating a family from Sudan: “A patient was referred to me during a conference. Over time, I treated five family members with different conditions—revision surgery, adult deformity correction via MIS, and minimally invasive approach for a patient with BMI 52. All recovered fully.” The spine program utilizes intra-operative neuromonitoring, O-arm navigation, and 3D imaging.
Dr. Prarthan Joshi, Senior Urologist, shared a case of three brothers with prostate enlargement: “The first had cancer and underwent robotic radical prostatectomy. The second had benign enlargement managed with medication. The third received laser prostatectomy.” He also treats UTIs, congenital anomalies, kidney transplants, and performs TVT-O surgery for elderly women.
Dr. Lav Selarka, Senior ENT Surgeon, stated, “Most patients come for hearing loss, vertigo, skull-base lesions, snoring, or sleep apnea. We perform complex endoscopic and microscopic skull-base surgeries, cochlear implants, and facial nerve schwannoma resections. We have one of the largest ENT departments in Western India, and patients also come from the USA, Canada, and the UK.”
Recent Initiatives
Teleconsultations are now available across most departments, allowing patients to meet their doctor before traveling. A physician training program also enables local doctors to learn under specialists, building clinical capacity in their home countries.
Zydus Hospital remains committed to extending advanced, affordable healthcare to patients regardless of geography.
