KHT 2007 begins March 23

Kochi, Jan 22 (UNI) To give a boost to medical tourism in Kerala, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the State Department of Tourism will organise a four-day international conference and exhibition on health tourism, 'Kerala Health Tourism, 2007 (KTH)', from March 23.

Speaking to reporters, State Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the conference would be a business-to-business discussion on medical tourism involving government, third part administrators, insurance companies, health tour operators and hospitals.

The conference would discuss on Ayurveda - challenges and opporunities, litigation issues in medical tourism and medical insurance, he added.

He said the last edition of KHT in 2006 gave an impetus to the tourism sector in the state.

KHT Chairman Philip Augustine said the conference would aim to project the superlative treatment facilities and infrastructure of the hospitals in the state to the world.

He said the participation of insurance companies in health care was paramount and this would be highlighted in KHT.

International business missions and visitors were expected from the UK, the US, Canada, the UAE, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives, he added.

CII Chairman Navas Mareen, State Tourism Director Sanjay Kaul and representatives of various hospitals were present.

UNI