India Emerges Hot Destination For Medical Tourism

Source: webwire
Friday, March 25, 2011
More than 100 per cent jump likely in Kenyan patients opting for treatment in India in 2011

New Delhi, March 25, 2011 – With medical tourism picking up at a fast pace, the number of patients traveling from Kenya to India is expected to more than double to 50,000 during the current year, compared to the previous year as the cost of treatment in India is as low as a tenth of what is in Kenya.

“The real attraction to medical tourism is saving money on what normally are very costly procedures. The cost of surgery in India, kidney transplants, cancer treatments, among others, can be as low as just a tenth of what is in Kenya.” – Hon (Prof) P. Anyang Nyongo, Minister Of Medical Services of Kenya, said while addressing the 1st ever Indian Medical Tourism event, The IMTD 2011 Africa.

Organised by Trident Exhibitions, the two-day event was held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya on March 17-18.

Dr Naresh Trehan, CMD, Medanta – The Medicity and Vice-Chairman, Services Exports Promotion Council (SEPC), who was one of the keynote speakers at the event, said Kenya as a market to India holds “tremendous potential” as cardiology in India is “second to none” as well as it offers traditional form of treatments such as yoga and homeopathy.

Similar sentiments were echoed by other speakers, including Mr. Sibrapratha Tripathi, The Indian High Commissioner to Kenya; Dr S R Mishra, MD, Mediheal Group of Hospitals; Dr Andrew Sule, Chairman of The Kenyan Medical Association; Mr Rajesh Sharma, DG, SEPC and Mrs Beatrice Sabana, Chairperson of The National Hospital Services Committee Of Kenya.

The event, where India’s premiere hospitals showcased their facilities and treatments, saw the participation from Doctors, patients seeking treatment abroad, chairpersons of various Medical Association, Sports persons, Insurance companies, facilitators and Travel Agents.

Hospitals, including The Asian Heart Institute, The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Medanta the Medicity, Fortis Healthcare, KIMS, MIMS, The New Hope Hospital, The Gujarat Cancer And Research Institute, M & J Institute Of Ophtamology (Ahmedabad), Cosmesis India and Narayana Hrudayalaya, showcased their offerings for better and affordable healthcare in India.

Rinku Khaturia of the Asian Heart Hospital, one of the biggest Cardio-Vascular institutes in India, called for organising more such conferences to attract patients in Africa.

Other highlights of the event were signing of MoU between SEPC and Kenyan Services Export Promotion Council, Cancer Company in Kenya offering to be Hospital supporter of Womens Centre, Dr Lumbi M w’Naeba, Chairman of The Kenya Spinal Injury Centre, visiting The Indian Spinal Injury Centre.

About IMTD 2011 Africa:
Indian Medical Tourism Destination a.k.a IMTD is an annual event to showcase the best of Indian Healthcare abroad. India is one of the biggest sought after medical tourism destinations of the world and events like the IMTD are focused at helping the growing medical tourism economy. With successful shows already conducted in Canada and Kenya, the IMTD is looking at touching other bigger markets like Mexico, Oman, Turkey, Indonesia, and the Middle east this year

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