Is India the Right Choice for Your Specific Situation?

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India is the right choice for an international prostate cancer patient if three conditions are met: the treatment you need is available at JCI-accredited quality, the cost saving is material to your decision, and you can stay for the required period.

Most men reading this guide meet all three conditions. Robotic prostatectomy, SBRT, EBRT, hormone therapy, abiraterone, and every other prostate cancer treatment used internationally is available in India at the hospitals GAF Healthcare recommends.

The cost saving is material for almost everyone not covered by comprehensive public healthcare. Robotic prostatectomy at USD 6,500 to 9,000 in India versus USD 25,000 to 55,000 in the United States is not a marginal difference.

Two years of abiraterone at USD 100 to 300 per month in India versus USD 5,000 to 7,000 in the United States is equally stark.

The practical requirements vary by treatment type. SBRT requires ten to fourteen days. Robotic prostatectomy requires three to four weeks. Conventional EBRT requires five to eight weeks. If these time windows are manageable, India is a practical option.

When India may not be the right choice

India is not the right choice if your condition is a medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalisation. Medical tourism requires planning — typically two to four weeks of preparation before travel — and is not compatible with acute clinical situations.

India is also not the right choice if your local healthcare system offers the same treatment at equivalent quality and acceptable cost.

A patient in the UK whose cancer is being appropriately managed on the NHS may have no compelling reason to travel. A patient facing a six-month wait and a significant private cost has a very different calculation to make.

For patients with serious comorbidities — poorly controlled heart failure, recent stroke, severe COPD, or unstable diabetes — the anaesthetic risk of major surgery in any country is elevated.

India's top hospitals manage these patients, but the decision to operate requires careful pre-operative assessment and clearance.

Before You Travel — Reports, Video Consultation, and the Visa

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The preparation that happens before you leave home determines the quality of your experience in India more than almost anything that happens on the ground.

Patients who arrive with complete reports, a confirmed surgeon, an agreed treatment plan, and accommodation sorted spend their time in India recovering or receiving treatment.

Patients who arrive without these things spend it in queues, repeating investigations, and navigating a system they do not understand in a country they have never visited.

Step 1 — Send your medical reports

The starting point for every GAF Healthcare patient is sending their medical reports by WhatsApp or email.

This means your PSA history, your MRI report and imaging disc, your biopsy pathology report, your staging scan reports, and a list of any medications you are currently taking.

You do not need to have everything. If all you have is a PSA result and a worry, send that. The clinical team will tell you what else is needed and whether it can be done in India or needs to be done before you travel.

Step 2 — The pre-travel video consultation

Every GAF Healthcare patient has a video consultation with their proposed Indian specialist before they book a flight. This is non-negotiable — no patient arrives at a hospital for cancer surgery without having spoken to their surgeon beforehand.

This consultation typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes. The specialist reviews your imaging, explains what the procedure will involve in your specific case, answers your questions, and tells you clearly what to expect from the recovery.

It is also the consultation where you decide — with full information and without pressure — whether you want to proceed. No travel has been booked, no deposits paid. The video call is information gathering, not a commitment.

Step 3 — The medical visa

International patients travelling to India for medical treatment need an Indian e-MedVisa — not a tourist visa.

The e-MedVisa is applied for online through the Indian government's visa portal and requires a hospital invitation letter confirming that you are seeking treatment at that facility.

GAF Healthcare provides this letter as standard for every patient, addressed to the Indian High Commission or Consulate in your country, within 24 to 48 hours of confirming your treatment plan.

Processing time for the e-MedVisa is typically three to five working days for most nationalities. It allows multiple entries and covers the entire duration of your treatment episode.

One companion — a spouse, family member, or carer — can travel on an e-MedVisa attendant visa linked to the patient's application.

A small number of nationalities require an in-person visa application at an Indian High Commission rather than an e-visa. GAF Healthcare advises patients on their specific country's requirements as part of the pre-travel preparation.

Getting to India — Which City, Which Airport, and When to Fly

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India has four major medical tourism hubs for prostate cancer treatment: Delhi and Gurgaon in the north, Mumbai in the west, Bengaluru in the south, and Chennai in the south-east. Which city you travel to depends entirely on which hospital your treatment is at.

Delhi / Gurgaon — the largest surgical hub

Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI, code DEL) serves Delhi and Gurgaon. Fortis FMRI, Medanta, Apollo Delhi, Artemis, and Max Saket all sit within 20 to 45 minutes of the airport depending on traffic.

DEL has direct connections to London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Lagos, Nairobi, Dhaka, Colombo, Singapore, and dozens of other international cities.

For patients from the UK, the Gulf, East Africa, and South Asia, Delhi is typically the most direct routing for Gurgaon or North Delhi hospitals.

Mumbai — best for CyberKnife SBRT and Gulf / East Africa patients

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) serves Mumbai. Kokilaben Hospital and Nanavati Hospital are both within 20 to 30 minutes of the airport. Tata Memorial is 40 to 50 minutes from BOM depending on traffic.

Mumbai has excellent direct connections to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Accra, and London.

For patients whose primary treatment is CyberKnife SBRT at Kokilaben — a ten-to-fourteen-day trip — Mumbai's compact geography and strong connections make it the most logistically efficient option.

Bengaluru and Chennai — South India

Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) serves Bengaluru for Manipal Hospitals. Chennai International Airport (MAA) serves Apollo Hospitals Greams Road.

Both cities have direct connections from the Gulf, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore — making them practical entry points for patients from those regions.

When to book your flights

Do not book flights until the pre-travel video consultation is complete and the treatment plan is confirmed. This is the most common mistake first-time medical tourists make — they book flights in anticipation before a hospital bed and surgeon are confirmed.

Book flexible or semi-flexible tickets where possible. Recovery timelines occasionally shift by a few days — a catheter needs an extra day before removal, or blood tests need to be repeated before medical clearance.

A refundable or changeable ticket avoids penalties in these situations.

For robotic prostatectomy, arrive two to three days before the planned surgery date. This gives time for the pre-operative consultation and blood tests, and for your body to recover from the long-haul flight before anaesthesia.

Where to Stay — Accommodation Near India's Major Hospital Clusters

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For most prostate cancer patients, the right accommodation is a serviced apartment within five to fifteen minutes of the hospital — close enough to reach quickly if needed.

Avoid paying medical district hotel prices for a long stay. A serviced apartment at USD 40 to 70 per night is both more comfortable and more affordable for stays of two weeks or longer.

A serviced apartment with a small kitchen is significantly more comfortable than a hotel room for stays of three weeks or longer. You can prepare simple food, maintain a more normal routine, and keep costs lower than eating every meal in a restaurant.

Gurgaon — near Fortis FMRI, Medanta, and Artemis

Serviced apartments in Sector 39, 44, and 56 Gurgaon are the standard choice for patients at Fortis FMRI and Medanta. Costs run USD 35 to 65 per night for a clean apartment suitable for a patient and one companion.

Several established providers in this area have years of experience hosting international medical patients and understand the specific needs of post-operative recovery.

GAF Healthcare recommends specific accommodation options in each area based on current availability, proximity to the hospital, and each patient's treatment type and recovery stage.

We do not arrange accommodation directly, but we provide specific recommendations that our patients have used repeatedly.

Delhi — near Apollo Delhi and Max Saket

For patients at Apollo Hospitals Delhi (Sarita Vihar) and Max Super Speciality (Saket), South Delhi serviced apartments in Jasola, Saket, and Greater Kailash offer practical proximity at USD 40 to 75 per night.

Mumbai — near Kokilaben and Nanavati

For shorter SBRT stays of ten to fourteen days at Kokilaben, well-rated hotels and serviced apartments in Andheri West — Kokilaben's immediate neighbourhood — are practical and cost USD 40 to 80 per night.

Nanavati Hospital sits in Vile Parle West, a few kilometres from the airport, with serviced apartments available in the same area at similar prices.

On Arrival — What Happens from Day One

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The first day in India feels calmer when you know what to expect. Here is the typical sequence for a GAF Healthcare patient arriving for robotic prostatectomy.

Day one is arrival day. The focus is transfer from the airport to accommodation, settling in, and resting after the flight.

No hospital visits are scheduled on arrival day for patients who have flown long-haul — your body needs time to adjust before the pre-operative consultation.

Day two is typically the first hospital visit — the pre-operative consultation and blood tests. If you have brought recent blood tests from home, some may be accepted without repeating.

The pre-operative assessment confirms fitness for anaesthesia, establishes a baseline, and identifies any issues that need addressing before surgery.

Day three is usually admission day for surgery patients. You check into the hospital in the morning and surgery takes place that day or the following morning depending on the surgical list schedule.

Language and communication

English is the language of medical care at all major Indian private hospitals. Your surgeon, your ward nurses, your discharge pharmacist — all communicate in English as a matter of standard practice.

Consent forms, discharge summaries, and prescriptions are all written in English.

For patients whose first language is Arabic, French, Swahili, Yoruba, Bengali, or Malayalam, the major hospitals have language support available.

Apollo Delhi and Medanta have dedicated international patient desks staffed with translators covering over 15 languages. If your language is less commonly spoken, GAF Healthcare co-ordinates specific translation support in advance.

Money, SIM cards, and practical basics

Indian rupees are widely available from ATMs at all major airports and in hospital areas. International debit and credit cards work at hospital billing counters, major hotels, and most restaurants in the areas where international patients typically stay.

A local SIM card with a data plan makes everyday communication dramatically easier. Jio and Airtel both offer prepaid tourist SIM cards at the airport on arrival.

Having a local number means hospital staff can reach you directly, and WhatsApp communication with GAF Healthcare and your surgeon works without international roaming charges.

Drinking bottled water is standard practice for all visitors to India. Bottled water is available at every hospital, hotel, and serviced apartment. This is not a concern specific to medical patients — it is simply how visitors to India manage hydration sensibly.

During Treatment — What Daily Life Looks Like in India

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The experience of recovery in India after robotic prostatectomy is very similar to what a patient would experience at a private hospital in London or Houston.

The procedure, the post-operative protocols, and the ward standards are directly comparable.

The hospital room is private, clean, and air-conditioned. There is a bed for your companion. Nursing check-ins are regular.

The physiotherapist comes to the ward the morning after surgery to get you standing and walking. Your catheter is managed by the ward team and removed within seven to ten days.

After discharge — the recovery period before flying home

After discharge from the hospital following robotic prostatectomy — typically day two or three post-surgery — you return to your accommodation and begin the recovery period that precedes medical clearance to fly.

During this period — roughly two to three weeks between discharge and flying home — your schedule involves wound checks at the hospital and catheter removal at around day seven to ten.

A post-catheter review follows a few days later, and finally the medical clearance consultation at three to four weeks.

Between hospital visits — which typically occupy two to three hours each — most of this recovery time is spent resting, eating, walking gently, and watching the PSA fall back toward undetectable on the first post-operative test.

Most patients find the recovery period in India quieter and more restful than anticipated. The routine is hospital visit, rest, food, gentle walking.

It is not a holiday — but it is not an ordeal either, provided the accommodation is comfortable and the companion has something to do nearby.

For SBRT patients — a much simpler schedule

SBRT patients have a far more manageable India stay. After fiducial marker placement on arrival — a 30-minute outpatient procedure — there is a one-week wait for the markers to settle.

Treatment itself is five sessions on alternate days — each lasting 30 to 60 minutes at the hospital, with no hospitalisation required.

SBRT patients typically feel normal throughout their India stay. There are no physical restrictions, no catheter, and no recovery period before flying home.

You complete the fifth session and fly home within one to two days. The entire India episode is ten to fourteen days of modest schedule disruption followed by a return to normal life.

Going Home — Discharge, Flying Safely, and Follow-Up

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The day you fly home is the day the quality of your discharge planning becomes apparent.

Patients who leave India with complete documentation, a clear follow-up plan, and direct access to their surgeon have a straightforward recovery. Patients who leave without these things face unnecessary anxiety and potentially dangerous situations if problems arise at home.

The discharge pack

Every GAF Healthcare patient leaves India with a discharge pack. It contains a full operative or treatment summary written for their home doctor and a complete list of all medications with doses and durations.

It also includes a red-flag symptom document explaining which symptoms require same-day attention from a local doctor.

It also includes the Indian surgeon's direct contact details and a schedule of post-operative PSA tests and follow-up video consultations.

The operative summary is important not just for your own records but for your local doctor or oncologist at home.

A concise, clearly written English summary of your surgery — including the specific procedure, operative findings, pathology, and post-operative plan — allows any clinician to understand your situation at a glance.

DVT risk and flying after surgery

Flying long-haul after major abdominal surgery carries a significantly elevated risk of deep vein thrombosis. This risk is highest in the first two weeks after surgery and remains elevated until approximately six weeks post-operatively.

This is why the standard advice after robotic prostatectomy is not to fly until three to four weeks post-operatively.

This is not arbitrary — it is the point at which the combination of surgical stress, immobility during flight, and hypercoagulability related to surgery reduces to an acceptable level.

When flying home after the surgical clearance period, wear compression stockings, walk the aisle every 60 to 90 minutes, stay well hydrated, and avoid alcohol.

Many surgeons prescribe a single dose of low molecular weight heparin injection on the day of the flight. Ask your surgeon specifically about this before you travel home.

Red flags after returning home

Three symptoms require same-day attention from your local doctor — not a wait-and-see approach: fever above 38°C (possible infection), calf pain or swelling (possible DVT), and unexpected heavy bleeding from the wound or in the urine after the initial recovery period.

None of these complications are common. But they are serious when they occur and respond well to early treatment — which requires recognising them promptly and acting the same day.

None of these complications are common. But they are serious when they occur and they respond well to early treatment — which requires recognising them promptly and acting the same day.

Remote follow-up with your Indian surgeon

Your Indian surgeon conducts a video follow-up at six weeks and three months after you return home. These consultations review your PSA results, your continence recovery progress, and any concerns that have arisen since discharge.

Between formal video consultations, your surgeon is available by WhatsApp for urgent clinical questions. This is not a promise of 24-hour on-call service — it is a commitment to respond to genuinely urgent questions within 24 hours and to non-urgent questions within 48 hours.

Country-Specific Notes — Nigeria, UK, UAE, Kenya, Bangladesh

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The practical experience of travelling to India for prostate cancer treatment differs in specific ways depending on where you are coming from. The following notes are based on the countries most frequently represented in GAF Healthcare's patient base.

Nigeria

Nigerian patients are the largest single international group at India's major cancer hospitals. The route is typically Lagos (LOS) or Abuja (ABV) to Delhi (DEL) or Mumbai (BOM) via Dubai, Addis Ababa, or Nairobi — flight times of 10 to 14 hours.

Nigerian passport holders apply for the e-MedVisa online and typically receive it within three to five working days.

Currency exchange between naira and rupees is most practically handled by converting to US dollars or UAE dirhams first, then exchanging to rupees at the Indian airport or hotel.

Abiraterone and other systemic drugs prescribed in India can be carried home in reasonable personal supply quantities with a valid prescription and a doctor's letter.

Nigerian patients returning with prescription oncology drugs should carry the original pharmacy packaging and letter to avoid any customs questions.

United Kingdom

UK patients typically travel for one of two reasons: NHS waiting times that feel unacceptably long, or a specific treatment where the volume and speed available in India exceeds what is accessible in the UK at a reasonable cost.

British passport holders receive the e-MedVisa within three to five working days. London Heathrow to Delhi is a direct eight-hour flight on multiple airlines.

The NHS does not fund treatment abroad, but GAF Healthcare's discharge documentation is specifically structured to integrate with GP records and NHS follow-up systems.

UK patients should inform their GP before travelling. If the GP is willing to co-manage post-operative care — ordering PSA tests, monitoring recovery — this significantly smooths the post-return experience.

Most GPs are comfortable doing this with a clear Indian operative summary in hand.

United Arab Emirates

UAE-based patients — whether Emirati nationals or expatriates — are among the most frequent travellers to India for prostate cancer treatment.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have direct flights to Delhi (3.5 hours) and Mumbai (3 hours), making India the most geographically accessible treatment destination.

UAE health insurance — both public and many private plans — does not typically fund treatment abroad. Patients usually self-fund.

The short flight time means companion travel is very practical, and many UAE-based patients make two to three shorter trips rather than one extended stay — particularly for SBRT or chemotherapy cycles.

Kenya and East Africa

Kenya has historically been one of the largest sources of medical tourism to India from East Africa, and prostate cancer is one of the most common conditions prompting the trip. Nairobi to Mumbai or Delhi is a direct or one-stop connection of eight to ten hours.

Kenyan patients should apply for the e-MedVisa with the hospital invitation letter. Currency exchange from Kenyan shillings to Indian rupees is most practically done via US dollars.

Several Nairobi travel agents specialise in India medical tourism packages and can assist with flights and forex.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is geographically close to India — Dhaka to Delhi is a two-and-a-half-hour flight.

Bangladeshi patients visiting India for prostate cancer treatment often choose to extend stays longer than the minimum required period, in part because return travel is so easy and inexpensive.

For Bangladeshi patients on long-course abiraterone or ADT, the India trip can serve a dual purpose — completing a staging workup or initiating treatment, and then returning home for ongoing management with periodic India visits for monitoring.