I've always believed in India's immense potential to become a global leader in medical tourism. It’s heartening to see this vision taking concrete steps forward with the recent announcement by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who stated that visa-on-arrival facilities for medical treatment are under consideration for patients from countries like the US and most of the European Union Can Consider Visa On Arrival For Medical Treatment: Piyush Goyal.
This is a topic I've reflected on for many years. Back in 2011, I wrote about the burgeoning medical tourism sector in India, highlighting how cost-effective treatments were a major draw for international patients MEDICAL TOURISM TO INDIA. Shobita Dhar, in the Times of India, had already noted how India was emerging as a popular destination, handling hundreds of thousands of foreign medical tourists annually. The savings were substantial—heart bypass surgeries at 7.2% of US costs, Angioplasties at 4.3%, and Hip Replacements at 16.5% MEDICAL TOURISM TO INDIA.
The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. I had already predicted this outcome or challenge, and I had even proposed a solution at the time. Now, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context. My blogs from 2010 and 2011, such as “Outsourcing Health-Care?” Outsourcing Health-Care and “OUTSOURCE TO INDIA, SAVE UK’S NHS” OUTSOURCE TO INDIA, SAVE UK’S NHS, delved into the economic advantages and the sheer volume of medical travel, noting the significant annual growth rate and the reasons patients chose India, including advanced procedures, better health outcomes, and, crucially, cost-effectiveness.
The prospect of visa-on-arrival is a natural and necessary progression. It directly addresses the logistical barriers that could deter potential medical tourists, making India an even more attractive option. I recall my communication regarding the 'Heal in India' initiative, where I congratulated Shri Mansukh Mandaviyaji on the long-overdue plan Heal in India. I emphasized that the proposed portal should go beyond just being a database, suggesting it should enable online bookings, payments, and progress reports, and even urging Shri Koshy, CEO of ONDC, to explore linking the portal with ONDC for seamless integration. These ideas were about streamlining the patient experience, and visa-on-arrival fits perfectly into that larger strategy.
This move by the government, backed by Piyush Goyal, confirms what many of us have seen for years: India's healthcare infrastructure and skilled medical professionals are world-class. Removing bureaucratic hurdles like complex visa processes will only accelerate our journey towards becoming the 'medical hub of the world,' as a senior government official once put it Heal in India. This isn't just about economic gain; it's about extending quality, affordable care to those who need it, globally.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
No comments:
Post a Comment