Once you've decided to go ahead with treatment in India allow reasonable time to research and familiarise yourself with the culture, local laws, customs and traditions and get immunisations, visas and medicines sorted out ideally six weeks before departure. Check that your passport is in good condition and valid, and that your visa commencement date correlates to your arrival date. Take a photocopy of your passport, Indian visa and flight tickets and keep theses separate from the originals when travelling.
Be aware of the hierarchical relationships in India as a result of Hinduism influences and the caste system. Indians are always conscious of social order and every relationship has a clear cut and respected hierarchy. Indians use their left hand for ablutions and their right hand to eat with so make sure you use your right hand in introductions or when eating, touching or speaking to people or you could offend them greatly!
You will be able to dine like a king on very little money in India, but take care with the water. You should only drink bottled mineral water and make sure that the seal is intact first. Avoid ice cubes and remember to also clean your teeth with bottled water. It is common for travellers to get an upset stomach and diarrhoea in India so it is best to avoid really spicy dishes in the first few weeks, not to eat food from street stalls and avoid unpeeled fruit or vegetables. Re-hydration is extremely important and antibiotics may be needed to kill the bacteria. You should seek further medical attention if the diarrhoea (or other symptoms) persist for more than a few days.
Practice common sense while in India - avoid walking alone in isolated spots after dark even in popular tourist areas and be careful on the beaches as India has some dangerous rips and currents so check with the locals about these before taking a dip. Temperatures soar in some places and the sun can be very hot and harsh on tender English skin so wear a sunhat in the day time, plenty of sunscreen and remember to stay hydrated with plenty of (bottled) water. Wear insect repellent even in non-malarial areas and tuck yourself inside the mosquito net which you will find hanging above the bed, or you might want to take your own.
There are 18 official languages in India, but Hindi which is spoken by 45 per cent of the population is the national language. Although medical professionals are more often proficient English speakers, some medical tourism packages will include translators and travel care coordinators who will assist with travel enquiries and information about customs.
India is five and a half hours ahead of GMT, four and a half hours behind Australian EST and 10 and a half hours ahead of American EST.
The Embassy in the UK is located at India House, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA. 020 7836 8484. The Embassy in the US is located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008. Phone 202 939 9806.
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