FAQ

HMT (Holistic Medical Tourism) is a fully integrated medical travel facilitation company. We connect patients from the SADC region and across Africa with world-class hospitals in Chennai, India. We manage every element of the journey from your initial inquiry through to your post-operative follow-up at home. We are not a referral agency that sends you a list of hospitals. We are a care coordination company with staff in Africa, Canada, and India. Our team works together to ensure your medical journey is seamless, transparent, and compassionate.

No. HMT is a facilitation and coordination company. All clinical care from diagnosis, surgical treatment, to post-operative management, is provided by India's accredited hospitals and their specialist teams. HMT manages the logistics, coordination, and support services around your medical care. This distinction is important: HMT's role is to remove every obstacle between you and the excellent care waiting for you in India.

HMT earns revenue through (1) consulting fees paid by patients, (2) commission paid by partner hospitals, and (3) service charges for in-India concierge services, translations, and accommodation. We are transparent about this, as we are motivated to help you access the right hospital at the right price, not the most expensive option. We also provide three independent quotes for every procedure, giving you genuine market comparison.

Yes. HMT is incorporated as a registered Canadian corporation in Ontario, operating under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). We are regulated by Canadian law and comply with international data protection standards including HIPAA, South Africa's POPIA, and Canada's PIPEDA.

HMT operates fully in English. However we have agents who speak English, French, and Portuguese in their respective countries. For in-India support, we provide translator-concierges who speak French and Portuguese. Written materials, including your patient portal interface, are available in all three languages.

Yes and for many specialties, they are better. India's top-tier hospitals are JCI-accredited (Joint Commission International, the global gold standard for hospital quality, the same accreditation used in America's finest hospitals) and NABH-accredited. The surgeons at Apollo, MIOT, Rela, and other HMT partner hospitals have trained at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, the Royal College of Surgeons, and other global institutions. They perform their specialty procedures every day, in volumes that far exceed what most African or European hospitals see. The difference between India's best and South Africa's best is not quality, it is cost.

Chennai is India's healthcare capital for liver transplant, orthopaedics, and oncology, the three highest-demand specialties among SADC patients. It is home to Apollo Hospitals (India's largest private network, founded in Chennai in 1983), MIOT International (a world leader in orthopaedics, 60,000+ procedures), Rela Institute (Asia's largest liver transplant programme), and Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (South Asia's only proton therapy facility). Chennai hospitals are also typically 10–20% more affordable than equivalent Delhi or Mumbai facilities for the same procedures and quality level. And Chennai is well-connected from Southern Africa via Emirates (Dubai), Qatar Airways (Doha), and Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa).

Two accreditations matter most. JCI (Joint Commission International) is the global gold standard, the same accreditation held by America's finest hospitals. It assesses patient safety, clinical outcomes, governance, and staff standards. NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) is India's own stringent accreditation system, overseen by the Quality Council of India. All HMT partner hospitals hold NABH accreditation as a minimum, and several, including Apollo Hospitals and Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, hold JCI accreditation as well.

Yes, completely. India's medical documentation system uses international standards. Your MRI and CT scan formats, your laboratory reference ranges, your pathology reports, all are read fluently by Indian specialists. Apollo, MIOT, and other partner hospitals have international patient teams experienced in reviewing records from SADC countries daily. In some cases, HMT's team may ask you to have certain reports re-issued in a specific format for visa purposes, but this is rare and we guide you through it.

Our partner hospitals are accredited institutions with full intensive care, emergency services, and specialist support. If a complication arises, you are in one of the world's best-equipped environments to manage it, which is far better equipped than most SADC hospitals. Your HMT concierge escalates any concern immediately to the hospital's international patient coordinator and to HMT management. We also strongly recommend that all patients purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, which, in the unlikely event it is ever needed, would repatriate you to South Africa. HMT advises on appropriate travel insurance policies during pre-departure briefing.

HMT's consulting fee is $1,500 per patient. It is paid in two installments 50% ($750) when you confirm your hospital choice, and the remaining 50% before you depart for India. This fee covers your complete pre-trip coordination: document assessment, obtaining three hospital quotes, visa facilitation, pre-departure briefing, airport reception coordination, and in-India concierge coordination. It does not cover the hospital procedure fee, flights, accommodation, living expenses, concierge and translator services in India. Once you confirm your hospital choice and we know your treatment and trip duration, HMT will provide you with a detailed all-in budget estimate.

No. All payments to the hospital go directly from you to the hospital, typically via international bank transfer or credit card through the hospital's own international payment systems. HMT never handles your medical procedure funds. This is an important protection for you and a deliberate design choice by HMT to ensure full financial transparency.

HMT is committed to complete cost transparency. We provide you with a detailed, itemised all-in budget estimate covering procedure costs, HMT fees, flights, accommodation, food, transport, visa fees, travel insurance, medications, and a 15% contingency buffer before you make any commitment. The only costs that can vary from the estimate are flight prices (which you book independently, and which fluctuate with airlines) and occasional post-surgical medication or extended stay costs in the event of a longer recovery than planned. We flag all of this upfront.

Indian currency is the Rupee (INR). Your African Mastercard or Visa debit/credit card will work at ATMs across Chennai for INR withdrawals. HMT recommends carrying $200–$300 USD in cash as a backup. USD is accepted at many medical-adjacent businesses. Local hospital fees are typically billed in INR or USD. Ola and Uber rides can be paid by card or cash. HMT includes a local Indian SIM card in your welcome kit so you can use WhatsApp and data throughout your stay.

HMT always builds a 15% contingency buffer into patient budgets precisely because medical recovery is not always predictable. If a patient requires a longer hospital stay due to a complication, or an additional test is ordered, costs can increase. We advise all patients to budget for the higher estimate in our range, carry their contingency amount, and purchase travel insurance that covers extended stays. We are transparent about this reality upfront because we believe informed patients make better decisions and have less stressful journeys.

Yes. Citizens of African countries must apply for an e-Medical Visa. This is an online visa specifically designed for medical tourists. It is applied for through India's official visa portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in), costs $25–$100 depending on nationality, and is typically approved within 48–72 hours. HMT manages the entire visa application process for you and your companion, including obtaining the hospital invitation letter required as part of the application.

Yes. Up to two blood relatives can accompany you on an e-Medical Attendant Visa, applied for simultaneously with your e-Medical Visa. HMT manages their visa application alongside yours. The companion does not need to provide their own medical documents. Only their passport, passport photo, proof of relationship, and travel details. For patients undergoing major surgery, we strongly recommend bringing a companion for emotional support during the hospital stay.

Yes. India requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination for all travellers arriving from sub-Saharan Africa, including all SADC countries. You must carry your Yellow Fever vaccination certificate (the international yellow card) on the journey. If you have not been vaccinated, please attend your nearest travel health clinic at least 10 days before departure. HMT includes the Yellow Fever requirement in your pre-departure checklist and will remind you well in advance.

The main routes from SADC cities to Chennai International Airport (MAA) operate via Gulf hubs or Addis Ababa. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Ethiopian operate flights via their hub to Chennai. HMT recommends booking change-friendly economy fares, as recovery timelines can occasionally shift.

HMT builds buffer days into your appointment schedule precisely to accommodate travel changes. We recommend booking airlines with change-friendly fares. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines all offer this on economy tickets. If a significant schedule change affects your hospital appointment, your HMT coordinator handles the rescheduling directly with the hospital's international patient team.

Your HMT India concierge is your dedicated on-the-ground support person throughout your stay in Chennai. They meet you at the airport on arrival, transfer you to your accommodation, and hand over your welcome kit (SIM card, itinerary, emergency contacts). They accompany you to every hospital appointment, consultation, pre-operative assessment, and post-surgery check-up. They file a daily report in your HMT Portal so your family can follow your journey in real time. They manage medication procurement, grocery shopping if needed, restaurant recommendations, and any logistical challenges. They escort you to your airport transfer on departure day. Throughout your stay they will be available in person at scheduled times, and by phone and WhatsApp, 24 hours a day.

HMT partner hospitals provide private room accommodation for all international patients as standard. Your room will include a bed for a companion if you are travelling with one. All rooms are air-conditioned, with television, Wi-Fi, and nurse call systems. Patient meals are provided by the hospital during the inpatient stay. HMT's hospital coordinator confirms room category and inclusions at the time of appointment booking.

HMT provides dedicated French-speaking and Portuguese-speaking translator-concierges for patients from DRC, Congo-Brazzaville, Angola, Mozambique, and other Francophone or Lusophone SADC countries. Translation services are charged separately at $50 per day full-time or $25 per half-day session. Your translator accompanies you to all medical consultations, translating both the clinical discussion and any administrative conversations. They also provide cultural liaison support helping you feel understood and comfortable throughout.

Your HMT concierge has direct contact with your hospital's 24-hour international patient emergency line, and all HMT partner hospitals have emergency departments operating around the clock. Your concierge is also available by phone at all hours for urgent situations. HMT's management team in India will also provide additional support for complex situations. Your emergency contact card in the HMT welcome kit lists all critical numbers.

For patients who are medically cleared for light activity, typically from day 5–10 post-surgery depending on the procedure, HMT's concierge arranges gentle outings that are appropriate to your condition. Chennai has beautiful beaches, magnificent temples, excellent markets, and fascinating historical sites. Your concierge uses good judgment about timing and pacing any excursions around your medical schedule. For companions who are mobile from the start, Chennai offers a rich and rewarding experience alongside the medical journey.

For living donor liver transplants, which are the most common type for international patients, yes, you would typically bring a suitable blood relative as your donor. India's Transplant of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) permits living donor transplants between blood relatives and spouses for international patients, subject to government approval. The Rela Institute and Apollo Chennai have dedicated transplant coordination teams who manage the approval process and guide HMT patients through the legal and medical requirements. HMT recommends beginning this inquiry as early as possible, as the approval process takes time.

Yes. Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) in Chennai is South Asia's first and only proton therapy facility, with JCI accreditation as a cancer hospital. HMT refers all cancer patients for whom proton therapy is clinically indicated, eg. brain tumours, spinal cancers, paediatric cancers, head-and-neck cancers, to APCC as the primary option. Proton therapy is not available in South Africa or most of Africa. Accessing it in Chennai through HMT may be the only way an African patient can receive this treatment.

This depends entirely on your treatment protocol. For patients undergoing a surgical oncology procedure, a single trip of 2–4 weeks is typically sufficient. For patients receiving chemotherapy, the standard protocol involves 4–6 cycles over 3–4 months. This may require either multiple trips to India or an extended stay for the full treatment course. HMT coordinates each element as a separate trip plan or arranges extended stay logistics, including extended visa application through India's FRRO process.

For a single knee or hip replacement, HMT recommends a minimum of 14 days in India. The hospital stay is typically 3–5 days post-surgery, followed by 7–10 days of supervised physiotherapy and mobility exercises before you are medically cleared to fly. For bilateral procedures (both knees or hips simultaneously, which many patients choose to maximise their India trip), we recommend 3–4 weeks. Your HMT patient budget guide provides detailed cost breakdowns for 2-week, 3-week, and 1-month options.

Many of HMT's patients have comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, conditions that are extremely common in the SADC patient demographic. Our partner hospitals are experienced in managing complex patients. Before confirming your hospital appointment, the hospital specialist reviews your complete medical history, including all existing conditions, and provides a pre-operative assessment confirming fitness for surgery. Kauvery Hospital is specifically recommended by HMT for older patients with multiple conditions, given its outstanding geriatric and internal medicine team.

Your local HMT agent conducts check-in calls at 2-weeks and 6-weeks after your return. Your complete medical records, discharge summary, surgical report, and medication instructions are stored in your HMT Portal and can be shared with any local doctor or specialist you see at home. For patients who require ongoing specialist follow-up, HMT facilitates teleconsultation with the treating Indian hospital. Most HMT partner hospitals offer formal telemedicine follow-up programmes for international patients. If your condition requires a return trip to India for a subsequent treatment phase, your HMT coordinator begins planning immediately.

Your HMT concierge assists you in stocking up on your post-operative prescription at Indian pharmacies before departure, typically a 3–6 month supply, at dramatically lower cost than at home. Many medications that cost $100–$300 per month in Africa cost $10–$30 in India for identical drugs. Your discharge summary specifies the generic drug names, which helps your local doctor prescribe equivalent medications at home if needed.

HMT's post-care protocol includes clear escalation guidance in your exit ki. Your local doctor's engagement with your Indian hospital's records, your HMT agent's contact information, and the hospital's international patient emergency line. For serious post-surgical complications, we recommend attending the nearest emergency department with your discharge summary. If required, your HMT Agent will work with his team member (coordinator) in India to facilitate urgent communication between your local doctors and your Indian surgical team. We do not disappear after you board your flight home. HMT's care commitment continues.

Yes. While HMT's primary focus is Southern Africa and the SADC region, we are equipped to assist patients from any African country, as well as members of the African diaspora in Canada and the United States. If you are an African family living in Toronto, Montreal, New York, or Atlanta and need to coordinate medical care for a family member back home, or if you yourself need treatment, HMT can assist you. Our trilingual team and multi-currency payment options make us accessible across the continent and diaspora.

Absolutely. HMT operates under strict data privacy standards, HIPAA-aligned (for US-connected patients), POPIA-compliant (for South African patients), and compliant with Canadian PIPEDA legislation. Your documents are stored in encrypted, cloud-hosted systems on Indian servers. They are shared only with partner hospitals that have signed formal data processing agreements, and only to the extent necessary for generating your treatment quote. Your name is removed before documents are shared at the assessment stage. HMT staff access your data only on a need-to-know basis.

HMT's refund policy is detailed in the Patient Service Agreement signed at registration. As a general principle, if a patient cancels before the hospital appointment is confirmed, a partial refund of the deposit (minus administrative costs) is possible. Once the hospital appointment is confirmed and visa letters have been issued, the deposit is typically non-refundable, as HMT has incurred real costs on your behalf. We strongly encourage patients to discuss any concerns with their HMT coordinator before committing. Our goal is to make sure you are fully confident before any payment is made.

Absolutely, and we think this is one of the most exciting opportunities in India for SADC patients. India is the birthplace of Ayurveda, one of the world's oldest healing traditions. For patients who are interested in supplementing their medical treatment with Ayurvedic recovery programmes, yoga, or wellness experiences, HMT can arrange consultations and programmes at reputable wellness centres in Chennai. This is a planned expansion of HMT's service offering and we will share details as partners are confirmed.

Getting started with HMT is simple. Visit www.HMT-Care.com and click 'Register' to create your patient profile on our secure portal. Alternatively, send us a WhatsApp message from any country and our team responds within 24 hours. If you have a local HMT agent in your community, ask them to register you through their unique QR code. There is no cost and no obligation for the initial consultation. Just tell us about your situation and we will take it from there.