NEW DELHI: In a bid to promote medical tourism, the tourism ministry has released a list of hospitals that would cater to foreign patients.
More than 50 accredited hospitals, including Apollo, Escorts, Breach Candy and Jaslok, have been listed in the new Incredible India campaign brochure that will be circulated in the Indian missions soon. The brochure highlights the treatment offered in each specialty hospital. Ayurvedic and yoga centres would also be listed.
"These accredited hospitals will follow a code of ethics to prevent patients from being fleeced," said Naresh Trehan, the country's leading cardiologist. The hospitals will also follow standardised pricing to avoid cutting into each others' customer base.
According to Trehan, 11 per cent of super specialist doctors in the US and 30 per cent in the UK's National Health Service are Indians. "With a talent base of over five lakh doctors and seven lakh nursing professionals, India can provide medical care of international standards at a comparatively low cost. Surgical procedures are available at one-tenth the cost of those in developed countries. Also there is no waiting period," said Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.
Meanwhile, tourism minister Ambika Soni has sought help from the external affairs ministry to sensitise officials at Indian missions towards those seeking the Medical (M) visa. "We want speedy clearances and M visas for a period of up to one year for those coming for treatment to India," Soni said. The Ministry of External Affairs started issuing the M visa three months back. Soni added that the healthcare sector had emerged as the largest in the service sector. Indians now spend over Rs1,00,000 crore a year on healthcare, and the sector contributes 6.2 per cent to the GDP. Experts project that by 2012, it will contribute 8 per cent to the GDP and employ 9 million people.
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