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As part of its Navratri Celebrations "Vibrant Gujarat 2006", the Government of Gujarat took the opportunity to promote its world-class medical facilities and medical expertise making Gujarat as a destination for medical tourism for Non Resident Indians.
Concept of Medical Tourism includes combining Healthcare with tourism potential and offering the Best of the East and the West under one roof.
India's emergence as the preferred Global Healthcare destination has attracted
patients from the globe to come to India particularly Gujarat for treatment which is estimated
to contribute 25-31 % of the industry earnings of one hundred thousand crores. The Gujarati
community comprises of 32% of the total 20.1 million people of Indian origin worldwide.
According to a study by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), India has a competitive edge
especially its cost advantage. The Cost of Medical treatment in India is less than 1/3rd of that in many European and US Hospitals.
Gujarat's medical expertise and the strength of its facilities are better than those of
some of the south-east Asian nations and Gujarat hospitals are trying to do lot harder selling
abroad. They are seeking to achieve this by measures such as:
Creating centre of excellences in the respective fields
Quality stamp through accreditation from global certification agencies such as JCI
Developing a network
Customised Packaged are available
There was a one mega event organized during the nine days of Navratri; an
exhibition on medical tourism where leading hospitals of the state had an opportunity to
show their facilities and service packages.
The Exhibition:
The Governor, H/E Navalkishor Sharma, inaugurated the exhibition. The exhibition
was from 23rd September to 1st October. The hospitals such as Apollo, Sterling Hospital,
Bankers Heart Hospital, J. S. Ayurvedic Hospital, G.E. Health Care, , Fortis Hospital,
Rajasthan hospital, and the Cardiology, Kidney and Cancer institutes from the Civil Hospital
campus participated in the exhibition enthusiastically.
The exhibition also promoted Indian Systems of Medicine specifically, Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Yoga.The focus areas for medical tourism have been derived from the fact that there are waiting lists in various specialties for both inpatients and outpatients, anything between three weeks to one year in hospitals in UK and USA. Many hospitals in Gujarat have experience in providing services to the NRGs and according to them the potential areas for Gujarat would be:
Cardiology
Renal transplantation
Carcinoma
Dental care
Cataract
Restructuring plastic surgery
Wellness and screening Programme
In Vitro Fertilization
Holistic care through Indian Systems of Medicine.
Planning for medical tourism ahead….
The Government of Gujarat sees this occasion as a beginning for making Gujarat a Global Health Destination. The long-term plans include:-
Establishing a Medical tourism council
M.O.Us with private hospitals for provision of high quality health care.
Introduction of Nursing Home Act
Accreditation of service providers so that quality services are assured.
Medi City
Opportunities for private participation in public hospitals
Investments in Capacity Building Schools of Public Health and Hospital Management
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