Gujarat holds potential for Medical Tourism in India: Jay Narayan Vyas, Minister of Health and Tourism, Gujarat

According to a PTI report, at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) organised seminar held recently in Ahmedabad, Jay Narayan Vyas, Minister of Health and Tourism, Gujarat said that the state has the potential to become gateway for Medical Tourism in India. Last year 4.50 lakh tourists visited the state for medical treatments. “With the kind of capacity building lined up for health care sector here in the coming months, we expect Gujarat to surpass Singapore in Medical Tourism,” added Vyas.

He mentioned that the total health care market in India is projected to be at Rs 3,200 billion by 2012, and on conservative estimate if Gujarat receives ten per cent share in it, it will open huge opportunities. The state can wait for this kind of market opportunity in health care from 2012-2015.

Vyas also mentioned that medical and paramedical colleges are proposed to come up in the state which will highlight Gujarat as a leading Medical Tourism destination soon. Efforts are underway to upgrade facilities and get National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) certification for the state run hospitals.