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ShareBangalore: Setting up Effluent Treatment Plants is costly
I was told that the government is taking all measures to ensure that patients of hospitals, that have been asked to set up Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), don't suffer. Everybody knows that installing an ETP is a time consuming process (6-8 months) and an expensive affair. It would easily cost somewhere between Rs5-6 crore. A government hospital, unlike a private hospital, does not have the freedom to take decisions and implement them in a short span of time. Keeping this in mind, I don't think the KSPCB will put unnecessary pressure on these hospitals. I'm sure the court will extend the deadline for the hospitals.
KSPCB is not partial to any particular section
In my opinion, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has never taken sides with or been partial to any particular section. I think it is fair to both the private and the government hospitals in every way. I have been in the medical profession for the past 19 years and I have never doubted the way the Board functions.
Medical tourism has a lot of potential in India
I think our government needs to pay a little more attention to revenue from medical tourism in the country. Our healthcare infrastructure attracts patients from over 56 countries. However, as of today, Thailand is the hub of healthcare because of the country's phenomenal connectivity. In my opinion, if there is a little more flexibility in the system, our country can beat Thailand any time because India's healthcare infrastructure is better than that of Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia's put together.
Why are we being stingy with medical visas?
One of the reasons why India is still behind in generating revenue through medical tourism is because of lack of freedom. People don't seek healthcare on a tourist visa as it is given for less than a month. By law, if there is a patient from another country seeking medical care in India on a tourist visa, he can be arrested after its expiry, irrespective of whether he has been fully treated or not.
Hence, people from Bangladesh, who prefer healthcare here, have to fly to places like Thailand for treatment. On one hand there is no direct flight from Bangladesh to India, and on the other, getting a medical visa is very difficult. Our revenue comes mainly from Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Middle East. In my opinion, if we encourage medical revenue from Bangladesh (that has a population of over 200 million) by improving connectivity and availability of medical visas, our country's economy will get the boost it needs right now. I am sure that the external affairs ministry will take the required steps.
Bangalore will soon be sought after in healthcare
Indian doctors are known for their compassion and warmth all over the world and they have already established their credentials in European and American countries. Given great healthcare infrastructure in the state -- maximum number of medical colleges in the country -- Bangalore will become the most sought after city within the next five years.
Today, India is on par with the US or maybe even better in terms of health care -- our country produces 33,000 doctors in a year, whereas US produces only 25,000. I think it's time we stopped referring to the past to predict the future because today we have the equipment, we have the infrastructure and we have the manpower to become the best.as told to nidhi bhushan
