Submited on: 12 May 2012 11:21:34 AM GMT
Published on: 14 May 2012 12:26:16 PM GMT
 

  • What are the main claims of the paper and how important are they?

    Reads like an advertisement for medical tourism and presents no significant claims that are supported by any data.


  • Are these claims novel? If not, please specify papers that weaken the claims to the originality of this one.

    No


  • Are the claims properly placed in the context of the previous literature?

    There are 7 generic references that do not contribute much to the article.


  • Do the results support the claims? If not, what other evidence is required?

    There are no results and no analysis even though one is claimed in the abstract.


  • If a protocol is provided, for example for a randomized controlled trial, are there any important deviations from it? If so, have the authors explained adequately why the deviations occurred?

    No protocol


  • Is the methodology valid? Does the paper offer enough details of its methodology that its experiments or its analyses could be reproduced?

    No methodology was presented


  • Would any other experiments or additional information improve the paper? How much better would the paper be if this extra work was done, and how difficult would such work be to do, or to provide?

    Yes


  • Is this paper outstanding in its discipline? (For example, would you like to see this work presented in a seminar at your hospital or university? Do you feel these results need to be incorporated in your next general lecture on the subject?) If yes, what makes it outstanding? If not, why not?

    No


  • Other Comments:

    No

  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    15 years public health academic, 2 doctorates

  • How to cite:  Anonymous.The Cost-Effectiveness and Competency Untold - An Analysis of Medical Tourism in Kerala with Reference to Allopathic Medicine [Review of the article ' The Cost-Effectiveness and Competency Untold - An Analysis of Medical Tourism in Kerala with reference to Allopathic Medicine ' by Joseph S].WebmedCentral 2012;3(7):WMCRW002056
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  • What are the main claims of the paper and how important are they?

    Medical tourism in India specially in the state of Kerala, as a source of income and foreign currency. Kerala is a well established center of Naturopathy, author wants to proves that same for allopathy.


  • Are these claims novel? If not, please specify papers that weaken the claims to the originality of this one.

    Not included the original work and data of self assessment, should also segregate the cost of tourism and treatment.


  • Are the claims properly placed in the context of the previous literature?

    Yes, but where is comparative analysis in terms of treatment, local cost and international cost.


  • Do the results support the claims? If not, what other evidence is required?

    If, this study was made by author, please include it, proper reference is needed in many places.


  • If a protocol is provided, for example for a randomized controlled trial, are there any important deviations from it? If so, have the authors explained adequately why the deviations occurred?

    Not applicable


  • Is the methodology valid? Does the paper offer enough details of its methodology that its experiments or its analyses could be reproduced?

    Not in true sense scientific study.


  • Would any other experiments or additional information improve the paper? How much better would the paper be if this extra work was done, and how difficult would such work be to do, or to provide?

    Includes:

    1. break up of total cost of treatment with example.

    2. tourism cost.

    3. cost of treatment in other states of India, and justified it for state of Kerala, why it should be preferred.

    4. justified health tourism for patients seeking Allopathy treatments because their requirements and status is far from the patients seeking naturopathy.

    5. Please gave the proper references of the data and packages included in this study.


  • Is this paper outstanding in its discipline? (For example, would you like to see this work presented in a seminar at your hospital or university? Do you feel these results need to be incorporated in your next general lecture on the subject?) If yes, what makes it outstanding? If not, why not?

    Claims made in this paper must be supported by field work study and proper information.


  • Other Comments:

    Author required more analytical approach to fulfill scientific communication requirement.

  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    Yes

  • How to cite:  Anonymous.The Cost-Effectiveness and Competency Untold - An Analysis of Medical Tourism in the State of Kerala, India with Reference to Allopathic Medicine[Review of the article ' The Cost-Effectiveness and Competency Untold - An Analysis of Medical Tourism in Kerala with reference to Allopathic Medicine ' by Joseph S].WebmedCentral 2012;3(7):WMCRW002053
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  • What are the main claims of the paper and how important are they?

    The defination of Medical Tourism should not be restricted to Developing Countries only , it can apply to Developed countries as well


  • Are these claims novel? If not, please specify papers that weaken the claims to the originality of this one.

    As you are mentioning the Cost effectiness of state of Kerala , India . It is not Cost effective for a person comming from Northern state of India ( Delhi, Haryana ) to travel to Kerala in terms of travel


  • Are the claims properly placed in the context of the previous literature?

    As you have more focused Kerala on AYSH system of Medicine rather than Allopathy 


  • Do the results support the claims? If not, what other evidence is required?

    No mention of Neurological diseases is seen in the Manauscript


  • If a protocol is provided, for example for a randomized controlled trial, are there any important deviations from it? If so, have the authors explained adequately why the deviations occurred?

    What is the average waiting time for CABAG?


  • Is the methodology valid? Does the paper offer enough details of its methodology that its experiments or its analyses could be reproduced?

    Quality Control On Various Dianositc Procedures is not mentioned 


  • Would any other experiments or additional information improve the paper? How much better would the paper be if this extra work was done, and how difficult would such work be to do, or to provide?

    Accredation of laboratory not discussed


  • Is this paper outstanding in its discipline? (For example, would you like to see this work presented in a seminar at your hospital or university? Do you feel these results need to be incorporated in your next general lecture on the subject?) If yes, what makes it outstanding? If not, why not?

    NA 


  • Other Comments:

    NA

  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    Being a Public Health Consultant

  • How to cite:  Kadri S .The Cost-Effectiveness and Competency Untold - An Analysis of Medical Tourism in Kerala With Reference to Allopathic Medicine[Review of the article ' The Cost-Effectiveness and Competency Untold - An Analysis of Medical Tourism in Kerala with reference to Allopathic Medicine ' by Joseph S].WebmedCentral 2012;3(7):WMCRW002050
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Medical Tourism
Posted by Dr. Russell Searight on 09 Jul 2012 01:32:29 AM GMT

  • What are the main claims of the paper and how important are they?

    Overview of medical tourism with particular attention to the State of Kerala in India. Article provides cost comparisons on selected nedical procedures in Kerala and U.S.. Article also describes a number iof "boutique" options available to medical tourists. Medical tourism has become more common --particularly in countries such as U.S.--where health care costs are growing dramatically


  • Are these claims novel? If not, please specify papers that weaken the claims to the originality of this one.

    Paper is original as a "case study" of some of the medical tourism practices in Kerala


  • Are the claims properly placed in the context of the previous literature?

    There is a growing body of professionla and scholarly literature on the topic that could provide a context for paper--See sources such as PubMed and  even Google Scholar for examples


  • Do the results support the claims? If not, what other evidence is required?

    Yes


  • If a protocol is provided, for example for a randomized controlled trial, are there any important deviations from it? If so, have the authors explained adequately why the deviations occurred?

    N/A This is a descriptive report


  • Is the methodology valid? Does the paper offer enough details of its methodology that its experiments or its analyses could be reproduced?

    Yes


  • Would any other experiments or additional information improve the paper? How much better would the paper be if this extra work was done, and how difficult would such work be to do, or to provide?

    Fine as it is


  • Is this paper outstanding in its discipline? (For example, would you like to see this work presented in a seminar at your hospital or university? Do you feel these results need to be incorporated in your next general lecture on the subject?) If yes, what makes it outstanding? If not, why not?

    It would make for an interesting conference paper


  • Other Comments:

    May want to explore the ethical implications. For example, in countries and regions with scarce medical care, is promoting medical tourism for wealthy international patients an appropriate use of resources ? (Again, see some of the scholarly literature on the subject) In the U.S., some health insurance companies are "outsourcing" costly medical procedures--What are the ethical, legal, and professional implications of this practice  (This has been discussed in journals focusing on medicine and law)

  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
    None
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    MPH- public health degree; have published and taught on medical ethics

  • How to cite:  Searight R .Medical Tourism[Review of the article ' The Cost-Effectiveness and Competency Untold - An Analysis of Medical Tourism in Kerala with reference to Allopathic Medicine ' by Joseph S].WebmedCentral 2012;3(7):WMCRW002048
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  • What are the main claims of the paper and how important are they?

    Medical tourism is a growing industry in the developing world, in India and specifically in Kerala. There are cost comparisons given as well as projections for future growth. This analysis is important to planners and health care providers in India, but of limited interest to health care providers not directly involved with medical tourism.


  • Are these claims novel? If not, please specify papers that weaken the claims to the originality of this one.

    Yes


  • Are the claims properly placed in the context of the previous literature?

    Yes


  • Do the results support the claims? If not, what other evidence is required?

    The only research data provided is related to the costs of various treatments in the US, Thailand and India.


  • If a protocol is provided, for example for a randomized controlled trial, are there any important deviations from it? If so, have the authors explained adequately why the deviations occurred?

    Not applicable


  • Is the methodology valid? Does the paper offer enough details of its methodology that its experiments or its analyses could be reproduced?

    Not applicable


  • Would any other experiments or additional information improve the paper? How much better would the paper be if this extra work was done, and how difficult would such work be to do, or to provide?

    This is essentially a position paper/editorial; it is reasonably supported by published data.


  • Is this paper outstanding in its discipline? (For example, would you like to see this work presented in a seminar at your hospital or university? Do you feel these results need to be incorporated in your next general lecture on the subject?) If yes, what makes it outstanding? If not, why not?

    No. This is essentially a position paper/editorial.


  • Other Comments:

    None

  • Competing interests:
    None
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
    None
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    Course Director, Health Care in the Global Community, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University.

  • How to cite:  Herchline T .Analysis of Medical Tourism in Kerala with reference to Allopathic Medicine[Review of the article ' The Cost-Effectiveness and Competency Untold - An Analysis of Medical Tourism in Kerala with reference to Allopathic Medicine ' by Joseph S].WebmedCentral 2012;3(6):WMCRW001979
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