Lucknow :
The city is poised to turn into a hub of medical tourism with both Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and King George’s Medical University is working to project themselves for the purpose. The move comes close on the heels of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav expressing ‘desire’ to develop Lucknow as medical tourism destination during the recently held NRI meeting.
KGMU seems to be a step ahead of SGPGI on the count. To take the idea further, a team from KGMU met chief managing director of IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) to work out the travel component in the medical tourism packages to be offered.
Vice-chancellor Prof Ravi Kant said, “KGMU would offer packages in six specialties including cardiology and neurosurgery in domestic and international categories. The packages would be in deluxe and super-deluxe classes and would include cost of travel, medical procedure and stay.” Chief managing director, IRCTC Manoj Sinha said that the packages would be finalised very soon.
Director, SGPGIMS, Prof Rakesh Kapoor, said, “The proposal is in the final stage and we would send it to state government for approval soon.” He claimed that presence of 24 super-speciality departments, including genetic medicine, endocrine surgery and renal transplant, makes SGPGI one of a kind in North India which makes it a fit case for medical tourism. “The institute is already attending a number of patients from Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia among other South Asian countries,” he added.
Besides KGMU authorities, many other believe in Lucknow becoming a medical tourism hub. “Lucknow is one of the very few rare combo cities having a rich heritage, picturesque places to visit and good quality medical health care facilities, especially when it comes to super-speciality treatment,” said Dr Ashok Yadav, president, UP government doctor’s association.
“Doctors in SGPGIMS and KGMU are known in the Americas because of their skill and research as well. Their names can be marketed as a brand name to boost the potential in the medical tourism sector,” said Prof MC Pant, International Georgian Association secretary general.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Shailvee Sharda, TNN / February 10th, 2015
