India, Saudi Arabia sign MoU to cooperate in health care sector

New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) India and Saudi Arabia today signed an agreement for cooperation in the fields of hospital consultancy and management.

The two countries have also agreed to cooperate in recruitment of Indian doctors and paramedical staff for Saudi Hospitals, import of Indian pharmaceuticals into Saudi Arabia, treatment of Saudi nationals in super-specialty hospitals in India and training of Saudi Arabian nurses in India.

The MoU in this regard was signed when Saudi Arabian Health Minister Hamad A.Al-Mane, who is on a visit to India, met Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ramadoss said that India is using nearly 90 per cent indigenous equipment in hospitals. Only 10 per cent of the requirement of equipment in the hospitals is imported.

Dr Ramadoss said although India is short of specialists, India would not hesitate in sending specialists to Saudi Arabia with provision to ensure their return on completion of tenure. He said that the HSCC could provide placement services to medical and paramedical personnel in the private sector while sending of Government personnel would be looked after by the Government.

Dr Ramadoss said that Indian Pharmaceuticals are of world class quality and it would benefit both countries if exports could be made directly to Saudi Arabia. The Minister said that medical tourism has come of age in India. The cost of major surgical procedures is extremely cheap in India in comparison to International rates, he added.

The visiting Minister said that in any village in Saudi Arabia one would find medical/paramedical personnel of Indian origin.

Senior officials of the Health Ministry assisted the Minister in the talks. The talks took place in a cordial atmosphere.

UNI AJ RR KP1955