Government’s priority is to reduce healthcare cost’ – Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi
Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi interacting with dignitaries at the International Conference and Exhibition on Health Tourism-2013 | K Rajesh Kumar
Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi interacting with dignitaries at the International Conference and Exhibition on Health Tourism-2013 | K Rajesh Kumar
The international conference and exhibition on ‘Kerala Health Tourism-2013’, organised by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), concluded on Saturday.
Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs inaugurated the valedictory function.
Vayalar Ravi said that the priority of the government is to bring down the cost of the healthcare in the country.
He pointed out that the idea of health tourism is slowly generating interest all across the world and people are exploring various economic alternatives.
“At this juncture, health tourism is a good suggestion. The aim behind merging health treatment and tourism is to provide a wonderful family vacation experience while convalescing at much affordable prices,” said Vayalar Ravi.
Referring to the findings of a study by McKinsey which was commissioned by the CII, he said: “It states that the health tourism industry in India could become a $5-billion business by 2015.
With technological edge, experienced specialists along with the latest equipment and state-of-the-art infrastructure, Indian healthcare has now become synonymous with safety, trust and excellence,’’ said the Union Minister.
“To point out many examples, death rate for coronary bypass patients in India is 0.8 per cent and infection rate is 0.3 per cent compared to the first world average of 1.2 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively.
‘‘This shows that our healthcare sector is doing extremely well,” he said.
Ravi also said the Union Government would make all efforts to make the Indian health tourism industry globally competitive.
“The advantage of health tourism is that it provides provision for cost-effective private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialised treatment,” he said.
Azad Moopen, chairman, Kerala Health Tourism-2013, P V Antony, KHT vice-chairman and Managing Director of Medical Trust Hospital, Ernakulam; Marthanda Pillai, chairman and MD, Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute; Philip Augustine, MD and CEO, Lakeshore Hospitals and Research Centre Ltd, and Tom Jose, Principal Secretary to Industry and Information Technology, were also present at the international conference and exhibition on ‘Kerala Health Tourism-2013’ organised by the KSIDC and the CII.
