With an efficient healthcare system in place, Bangalore has become a major destination in health tourism. Countless hospitals—from the diminutive one-room health centres to huge super-specialty clinics—dot the city. But the two government hospitals that have done the city proud are Victoria Hospital and NIMHANS.

Victoria Hospital is the biggest government sick bay and is under the aegis of the Bangalore Medical College. Founded in 1901 by the Wodeyar family, this hospital boasts of services 24/7, which include surgery, general and specialised medicines, the burns ward with high-end plastic-surgery facilities, ENT and trauma care.

Other facilities offered are radiology, orthopaedics, blood bank, X-ray, CT scan and ultra sound, forensic medicines and urology. Free treatment is provided to poor patients and the lab has been converted to a high-end research centre.

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences or NIMHANS is the country’s foremost institution in psychology and neurosciences. The combined efforts of the central and state governments have borne fruit and now the institute boasts of a sprawling campus with a huge hospital building, hostels, research centres, labs and outpatient departments.

NIMHANS also offers many courses, ranging from the diploma to the PhD, in a variety of disciplines that include nursing, neurology, biophysics, neurosurgery, clinical psychology, pathology, social work, neurophysiology and neuro-anaesthesia. There is a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts and alcoholics as well.

Both these hospitals are globally renowned and have people coming here from all over the world in search of quality treatment at reasonable expenses.

Who said India lacked quality healthcare?