Centre promoting medical tourism in a big way: Mahesh Sharma

We have growth of 23-28 per cent in medical tourism in past three years, it can be a real strength of India, added Sharma

Medical tourism has witnessed a growth of around 28 per cent in the last three years, Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said on Thursday, and asserted that the Centre is promoting this sector in a "big way" by initiating the process of granting e-medical visas for tourists.

Observing that medical tourism can become the strength of India, Sharma said that to promote this sector, a national medical and wellness tourism board has also been constituted.

"Medical tourism can be the strength of India. We have a growth of 23-28 per cent in last three years in medical tourism. We are trying to address medical tourism in India in a big way by initiating the process of e-medical visa.

"And forming a national medical and wellness tourism board where we propose that all of our healthcare institutions which will be providing medical tourism facilities to tourists they will be standardised," he said.

He was speaking at the 3rd International Congress of the World Coalition for Trauma Care and 8th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Trauma and Acute care.

Sharma had earlier this year, chaired the first meeting of the National Medical and Wellness Tourism Promotion Board and assured all help to the stakeholders, including easing of visa process for such travellers.

Speaking on trauma care, Sharma said that the government is trying to address various issues including non-availability of ambulances and bureaucratic problems.

Noting that there has been an increase in both traffic and value of life, Sharma said that trauma services play a big role in the 'golden hours' and there is a need to update and upgrade to meet the challenges and new requirements in this field.

He noted that medical profession is facing a crisis not only in India but also worldwide and there are issues like consumer protection laws worldwide, students not opting for medical profession and working conditions of doctors among others.