India: Travel Health Information

Popular travel destinations in India include Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Mehrangarh, and Girnar Hill.

Healthcare

The standards for patient care and medical services in India may differ from your home country. India has both public and private health sectors, but the private sector is larger and provides most of the country’s inpatient and outpatient care. The majority of the country’s doctors work in the private sector. However, there is limited regulation so the quality of privately-funded care can vary and some practitioners may not be adequately qualified. Healthcare in India does not always meet international standards, especially in rural areas. Publicly-run facilities provide the majority of care in rural areas, but are often reported to be understaffed and lacking essential supplies.

Hospitals in India typically require upfront payment in cash or credit card, regardless if you have travel health insurance. Medical evacuation to Singapore or Thailand is common for serious health emergencies. Ensure that you have accessible funds to cover upfront fees and adequate travel health insurance and evacuation coverage to reimburse you and cover any additional medical costs. Before you depart, check with your insurer about the extent of their coverage in India.

Essential medications may be temporarily unavailable or in short supply and special medications may be difficult to find. Many medications in India can be purchased over-the-counter without a prescription, but you should always consult a physician before taking a new medication. Avoid buying medications from markets or unlicensed pharmacies, as fake medication is a common problem.

Road safety

Traffic in India is often chaotic, especially in urban areas. Roads and vehicles may not be maintained to safety standards and road rules may not be consistently followed or enforced. A national seat belt law applies to all occupants of a vehicle and motorcycle drivers and passengers are required to wear a helmet. Driving occurs on the left-hand side of the road.

Sources

• Bhargava, A. & Kalantri, SP. (2013). The crisis in access to essential medications in India: key issues which call for action. Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. 10(2).
• Chokshi, M. et al. (2016). Health systems in India. Journal of Perinatology. 36(Suppl 3): S9-S12.
• Gupta, I. & Bhatia, M. The Indian Health Care System. International Health Care System Profiles. The Commonwealth Fund.
• Maiti, R. et al. (2015). Essential Medicines: An Indian Perspective. Indian Journal of Community Medicine. 40(4).
• World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory (GHO) data: India.
• World Health Organization. Regional Office for South-East Asia. (2012). WHO country cooperation strategy: India 2012-2017. World Health Organization. Regional Office for South-East Asia.
• World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Western Pacific. (2009). Road Safety in the Western Pacific Region: call for action. Manila : WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.