The government takes new measures to improve medical tourism.
Posted on May 16, 2022 by Ghoomophiro
In their efforts to build the brand of India and its budding medical tourism industry, the union government of India is developing plans to launch a portal to provide some credible information for those who wish to take medical treatment in India. It has also been considering setting up several facilitation centers to support these foreign medical tourists.
Union minister of health and family welfare and chemicals and fertilizers of India, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, claimed that India, with its high-end, inexpensive healthcare ecosystem and world-class medical facilities, has become a powerful attraction for the whole world while addressing the roundtable conference with senior IFS (Indian Foreign Service) officers on Building Brand India at Vigyan Bhawan.
Highlighting the union government’s desire to take steps to strengthen the budding Medical Value Tourism further, he suggested establishing facilitation centers at the Indian Embassies across the world for the various international tourists wanting to travel to India for treatment. In addition, a medical system to receive feedback and testimonials from these international tourists who are already getting treated in India should be instituted. These measures will help the country establish the ‘Brand India’ in the medical tourism industry.
He commented that a ‘One Step’ portal is being created for the convenience and ease of credible information for those who wish to take treatment in India from abroad.
Commenting on the efforts to sign bilateral agreements with other countries for mutual services in the medical sector, the union minister of health and family welfare and chemicals and fertilizers of India, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, noted that the country already has an agreement with Japan for providing skilled nurses. Such bilateral agreements have also been made with several other nations to deliver a competent medical workforce. He added that one should explore these possibilities to promote medical value tourism.
India has already established itself as the focal point of international tourism for AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) treatments. It has also recently launched the ‘AYUSH mark’ to provide the desired authenticity to AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) products in India and to further promote the traditional medicinal system industry.
A Special Visa Category has also been created for those tourists coming to India to get AYUSH treatment from other countries. The legal provision of this Medical Visa and Medical Attendant Visa has also been made in 165 countries to get Ayurveda treatment.
He invited everyone to share their suggestions for further strengthening the medical tourism sector and making India a ‘Global Medical Hub’ in line with the nation’s cultural spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava.’ That will benefit the Medical Tourism industry, Healthcare Sectors, and India’s other service industries.
According to the Medical Tourism Index 2020-21 released by the Medical Tourism Association, India is currently ranked in 10th position out of the top 46 countries, 12th in the world’s top 20 wellness tourism countries, 5th in the top 10 wellness tourism markets in Asia-Pacific region. The medicinal treatment costs in India are 65 to 90% less than the cost of treatment in the United States of America. Over 39 Joint Commission International (JCI) and 657 National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) accredited hospitals in India. Such credits show equal to or better than Global Quality Standards and Benchmarks.
To further boost Medical Tourism, the union government of India has launched national ‘Heal in India’ and ‘Heal by India’ programs which will provide an opportunity for India’s medical workforce to travel all over the world and contribute toward a healthy global society, he asserted.
“We are committed to making India a Global Medical Value Hub by further strengthening our traditional medicine industry and boosting ‘Heal in India’ & ‘Heal by India’ initiatives,” he added.
