Chandigarh formulates Medical Tourism plan

Chandigarh, May 21 (UNI) The Chandigarh Administration has formulated a comprehensive Medical Tourism Action Plan to promote the city as a healthcare destination and to attract more foreign tourists.

This plan would focus on utilising surplus facilities in private hospitals of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.

UT Home Secretary, Mr Krishna Mohan said here yesterday that the Action Plan has been formulated after taking all the relevant inputs from the medical and tourism industry. Director PGI and leading private healthcare providers had also been consulted.

''We can earn a huge amount of foreign exchange if the potential of health tourism is fully tapped. In fact, if health tourism is promoted, other tourism would also benefit, without any substantial addition to the overall expenditure'' Mr Mohan added.

The healthcare facilities at Chandigarh are world class and the costs are just 10 per cent of those in western countries.

Comprehensive data of the medical facilities available in tri-city of Chandigarh would be created. It would be placed separately under private sector and public sector hospitals/clinics/laboratories/ imaging centers/dental surgery etc.

The Chandigarh Administration would take feedback from various surgical/medical centres on the number of foreign medical tourists visiting the City and the nature of treatment administered. The feedback would be utilised to further promote Medical Tourism facilities.

A world-class website for Chandigarh Medical Tourism would be created and a mechanism would be established to maintain a regular updating. The website would enable the interested medical tourists to seek appointment with the doctor/ hospital of one's choice and booking of CITCO and private hotel rooms in the city.

Modern, attractive and professionally fabricated sign boards and information boards at ISBT/ Railway station/ Airport etc would be installed in the city to facilitate easy access to information for patients and other visitors to the city. These would contain brief and relevant information on hospitals of the tri city.

Medical maps of Chandigarh would be printed in association with private hospitals. The arrangements would be made to make the maps readily available at all prominent outlets, hotels, shops etc.

Mr Mohan said that collaboration with embassies and missions of various countries would be maintained on a regular basis to project the city as a destination for foreign patients.

Suggestions and comments for promoting medical tourism from foreign missions, leading organisations, hotel groups, airlines etc would be taken so as to understand their needs.

Information kiosks would be set up and CDs of Chandigarh Medical Tourism would be made, which will be made available at various prominent locations.

UNI