NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, MAY 1
Aiming at creating a global platform to provide healthcare services and medical facilities for international patients visiting Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday inaugurated a Medical Tourism Conference in the state. The conference, the first of its kind in the southern state, witnessed participation from 75 representatives from 21 countries, including those from Africa and the Middle East.
Inaugurated Tamil Nadu's first ever International Medical Value Travel Summit in Chennai – the medical tourism capital of our country known for providing world-class healthcare at affordable cost.
This summit with the participation of several international delegates and… pic.twitter.com/7SLV29bdgd
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) April 29, 2023
- Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurates Medical Tourism Conference in Chennai
- Tamil Nadu is leading in the medical tourism sector in India with over 40 per cent of the international patients availing medical services in the state.
- Cities such as Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Vellore attract 1.5 million international patients annually.
- Medical treatment in India is provided at a cost that is about a tenth of the cost that needs to be paid in America and Britain: Praveen Kumar Miital, Senior Director, FICCI
- Low cost, short waiting times, world-class infrastructure and skilled practitioners are some push factors for the city as a medical tourism hub
This summit titled- “Tamil Nadu – Where the world comes to heal”, saw the participation of several international delegates and healthcare professionals from the industry in Tamil Nadu.
The healthcare infrastructure of Tamil Nadu has already placed it on a high pedestal for medical tourism, attracting international patients for cardiac procedures, Orthopaedic procedures, cancer treatment and transplants mainly, a press release from the state secretariat said.
Tamil Nadu's 1st International Medical Value Travel Summit inaugurated by Hon'ble CM Thiru. M.K. Stalin with officials including Thiru. K. Ramachandran, Minister of Tourism, Thiru. Ma. Subramanian, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Thiru. Mano Thangaraj, Minister of IT pic.twitter.com/4USlN80H1n
— Tamil Nadu Tourism (@tntourismoffcl) April 30, 2023
Tamil Nadu Tourism Department and State health department will play an important role in making Tamil Nadu a leading medical tourism destination since Tamil Nadu is already a trusted destination for healthcare needs with skilled healthcare professionals, state-of-the-art technology and affordable medical services.
The conference also saw the participation of 350 stakeholders from 120 private hospitals of Tamil Nadu, including distinguished doctors in various fields, foreign embassy officials, tour operators, hotel managers, representatives of insurance companies, doctors from Siddha, Yoga and Ayush medicine too, the release said.
“Tamil Nadu is at the forefront of the medical tourism sector in India. 40% of international patients coming to India are visiting Tamil Nadu. Cities like Delhi and Mumbai also attract a significant number of international patients. This conference will discuss how Tamil Nadu can prepare to compete with them,” Sandeep Nanduri, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, said.
“Insurance companies, referral hospitals in abroad, treating hositals in Chennai, top CEOs, renowned surgeons and top medical experts have been roped in for the platform established through the summit. More than ten speciality hospitals in Chennai are part of the event. The state tourism department will also facilitate the arrival, visas and immigration level assistance for these patients giving TN, a huge advantage to be explored through medical tourism,” said Dr B Chandramohan, secretary, Toursim and HR and CE department said.
About the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns on the medical tourism industry, Praveen Kumar Miital, Senior Director, FICCI said, “Even during the Corona pandemic, this sector, which saw less than 5% growth, is now growing at 29.3%.’’
‘’Medical treatment in India is provided at a cost that is about a tenth of the cost that needs to be paid in America and Britain. Though patients in these countries are covered under the insurance scheme, the wait time is long. India has zero wait time. This conference will give a boost to the sector, and help focus on policies,’’ he added.
B Mukund, Manager, of Global Patient Connect at Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, said, “In 2016, 100 international patients were coming to our hospital per month. Now this number has doubled. Patients are coming not only from African countries but also from countries like Romania and Ukraine.
For example, according to India’s public policy think tank NITI Aayog, a heart bypass surgery that can cost as much as US$26,000 in Western countries could cost just US$7,900 in India.
Medical tourism in the country received a further boost in 2018, when the Indian government established a fund of US$641 million to improve service sectors, with health tourism among them. In 2020, India ranked 10th in the global medical tourism index, an industry estimated to be worth US$53 billion globally by 2028.
