BENGALURU: Representatives from over 70 countries and 700 hosted buyers from across the world are participating in Advantage Healthcare India 2017, a three-day event to promote India as a premier global healthcare destination.
It is being organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), along with the Department of Commerce and Industry and Service Export Promotion Council (ISEPC).
In his address Gaurav Gupta, State Principal Secretary, Department of IT, Biotechnology and Tourism, stressed on the country's potential in medical tourism. He said, “India is a key medical value travel (MVT) destination in Asia, with more than 5,00,000 foreign patients seek treatment. It can be a Rs 900-crore opportunity by 2020. Karnataka holds immense potential in wellness and medical tourism. Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mangaluru have some of the best hospitals in Asia, while Udipi, Gokarna, Mysuru and Vijayapura have developed as wellness destinations. “
He also pointed out that the state has direct connectivity with world capitals, Eastern healthcare wisdom and expertise in Western medicine. There are 19 NABH accredited hospitals in Bengaluru alone. Gupta revealed that the state government would shortly come out with a medical and wellness tourism policy. “It proposes to set up a marketing fund for promoting the state as a MVT destination and provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs for wellness tourism."
Dr Shalini Rajneesh, who was recently transferred as the Principal Secretary, Department of Primary and Secondary Education, said, "In Karnataka, we have the best of natural ambience for good health and it can cure worst of illnesses. The State is the first in the country to bring out an integrated health policy, trying to integrate allopathy with AYUSH. Karnataka is well positioned to benefit from the MVT opportunity."
During the event FICCI-Quintiles IMS knowledge paper on ‘Medical Tourism in India’ was released. It highlighted the progress made to ensure growth of MVT in the country and the way forward.
Satyajeet Rajan, Director General, Union Ministry of Tourism, said in his address, "Some interventions by the Tourism Ministry to facilitate MVT to India have been path-breaking, such as the introduction of e-medical visas ranging from 60 days to 6 months and doing away with the requirement for foreign patients to report to FRROs. We are going to set up six facilitation centres in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi, and Goa by January next year to cater to medical tourists. We are also focusing on promoting homestays for medical tourists to bring down their cost of stay in India."
Several panel discussions will be held during the three-day summit and more than 40 speakers would share their views on various themes.
FICCI calls for coordinated effort
According to a FICCI-IMS report, over 500,000 foreign patients seek treatment in India each year. However, coordinated efforts was required by key stakeholders to turn India into “The Provider to the World” and accelerate MVT growth from the existing 15% to 25%. Foreign patients mostly come to India for heart surgery, knee transplant, cosmetic surgery and dental care, as the treatment cost here is considered the lowest in Asia. It is much lower than Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong
