Role of CII to promote Health Tourism in Kerala
India is a
preferred health care destination and is set to grow globally, fulled by
relatively low priced medical facilities available. It is estimated that
overall business of medical tourism is growing 30 per cent per year and is
forecast to generate at least US$2.2 billion a year by 2012. According to
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), India is targeting to attract 1
million foreign medical tourists annually.
The Confederation of Indian Industry along with the Indian Health care
Federation is working out to bring several medical institutions under one
roof. In many respect India is a perfect medical tourism destination with
competitively-priced, quality health care services in major tourist cities
and connected by extensive global travel networks. CII is working in
collaboration with the majority of tour operators to promote attractive
health care packages for the promotion of medical tourism in the country.
Upto now CII has successfully incorporated 40 hospitals under the shelter of
medical tourism. The promotion work was started by the top 12 major
hospitals in Keral including Lakeshore, Amrita, Medical Trust, MIMS, Baby
Memorial, KIMS,Ananthapuri, Uthradom Thirunal, EMS Coop. Hospital etc.
In order to create awareness and market medical services, CII conducts
exhibitions, cultural evening and international conferences on health
tourism from time to time. With respect to that some of the major hospitals
in Kerala are creating incentives to retain their best medical talent and
tour agents and hospitality providers are forming partnership and offering
value added packages. Best initiatives are undertaken to increase public
awareness of medical tourism options available in the country. With that
greater confidence is built up for the India hospitals to boost up the
business of medical tourism. and satisfaction with tourism elements are the
accelerator for further growth.
According to the CII medical tourism market in India is advantageous cost
wise, which is only one fifth of medical costs in the West. CII recently
completed a study on the Scope of
Medical Tourism in India. The study says that the medical tourists in
modern medicine at present is hardly12,000 to 16,000. (This is exclusive of
Ayurveda which is already about 3.5 lakhs.) By 2012 it will hit 1 million
visitors to India. Out of this Kerala's target is 20%, i.e.2 lakhs. It
is expected that in 5 to 10 years, Medical tourism will overtake other forms
of tourism.
In addition to that the study of CII pointed at India's unique position in
holistic medicinal facilities. The scope of alternative medicinal options is
also high in the country. With Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturatherapy etc India
offers unique medical services to the individuals that is simply
incomparable.