Gujarat can attract 20 lakh medical tourists

Gujarat can attract over two million medical tourists in the coming years, claimed state health minister, Jay Narayan Vyas.

“Today, Singapore and Thailand attract more than one million patients. If we continue to progress the way we are today, Gujarat can expect attracting more than 2 million patients in the coming few years”, Vyas said at a pre-Vibrant healthcare summit, 'Fostering Healthcare for all'.

Organised by the Health and Family Welfare Department, government of Gujarat and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) with the support of the Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb), this seminar focused on Investment opportunities and growth of the Healthcare Sector in Gujarat.

The minister added that, "The healthcare landscape in Gujarat is changing rapidly. The state government is taking several initiatives to make Gujarat a global healthcare destination. There are tremendous opportunities for the delegates present here today to tap the vast potential in the state’s healthcare sector".

The state health department has quite a few projects in the pipeline including the upgradation and renovation of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital at the Cost of Rs 1000 crores is in the offing. Cancer Society is posed to commence Super-Specialty Services and a Medical College. Additionally, medical colleges at Sola, Gotri, Patan and Valsad are likely to start soon. “The Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in medical care is on a fast track and a lot of hospitals in Gujarat today have adopted this successful model in various practices. To further boost the PPP model, we have received encouraging response from private companies wanting to adopt this model. The Government has achieved excellent results from initiatives like “Bal Sakha Yojna”, Chiranjeevi Yojna” and “Extended Bal Sakha Yojna", Vyas said.

At the same time in terms of quality the state Government has been undertaking NABH, NABL accreditation. "The 108 Ambulance has not only enabled effective delivery of emergency services in urban areas but also in the rural areas of the State. The Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), U N Mehta Cardiology and Research Centre and Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, etc. have effectively delivered quality services under the PPP mode. The State Government has heavily invested in Healthcare.” he added.