Category Archives: Fertility Tourism

Indu Agnihotri, National Director of Centre for Women’s Development Studies, addressing a women’s meet in Thrissur on Monday. —Photo: K.K. Najeeb

‘Govt. unconcerned about health issues of surrogate mothers’

The much tom-tommed Gujarat-model of development is mainly based on fertility tourism, which violates rights of surrogate mothers, Indu Agnihotri, National Director of Centre for Women’s Development Studies, has said.

She was addressing a National Women’s meet, organised by C. Bhaskaran Foundation at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi here on Monday.

“If Gujarat was once known for white revolution, the State has become the centre of fertility tourism. But even though the State and Union governments are cashing in on the poor surrogate mothers, they are least bothered about the rights and health issues of these women, who are forced to sell their womb due to poverty, ” Ms. Agnihotri said.

Though the country has many laws against dowry and sex identification of the foetus, the declining sex ratio even in a State like Kerala, which has high literacy rate, was a worrying sign, she noted.

“The leaders who express the country’s hopes and dreams at Silicon Valley, forgets these realities of the country, ” she said. There has been a collective effort to reverse the achievement gained by the women in the past. The digital world is actively indulged in anti-women campaign. Increasing trend of home-based work of women will snatch all labour rights from them, she added.

Citing that more than one crore ‘scheme workers’ (ICDS, Asha) are not been considered as government workers, Ms. Agnihotri said that the system was exploiting them by not even paying them basic pay.

Barring of woman translator from the book publishing function recently at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Hall was the latest example of discrimination against women, said CPI(M) leader K.K. Shailaja. It was an attack on women’s rights by cultural fascists, she added.

Congress leader Shanimol Usman said all main political parties were reluctant to share power with women.

T.K. Rajalakshmi, journalist, noted that neo-liberal policies along with the so-called austerity measures of the government such as cutting of various subsidies and welfare schemes have encouraged intolerance against women and marginalised sessions in society.

Presentations and discussions on strengths and issues of women in socio-economic and cultural sectors were discussed at the meet.

Various socio-cultural activists including S. Saradakutty, R. Bindu, Mridul Eapen, T.N. Seema, Geetha Nazir, K.G. Thara, Seema Bhaskar, T.A. Ushakumari, P.S. Geethakutty, R. Ramya, T.K. Anandhi, Suja Susan George, K.M. Sheeba, and Nileena Atholi participated in the discussions.

The meet will conclude on Tuesday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Thrissur – September 29th, 2015

Following infertility treatment, the DHCC survey findings point that medical tourists opt for cosmetic, dental, cardiac, and orthopaedic procedures. 

Infertility treatment tops list of medical tourism procedures conducted at the Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) against the global trend of cosmetic surgery, dentistry, orthopaedic and heart surgery as the most common procedures people undergo on medical tourism trip, according to a new survey conducted by DHCC .

Following infertility treatment, the survey findings point that medical tourists opt for cosmetic, dental, cardiac, and orthopaedic procedures, treatments or tests.

The survey was commissioned by DHCC using respondents from its 120 medical facilities. The data collected represents a six-month period, beginning January 2014. The sample size was weighted for facilities that offer clinical services so that it was representative of medical tourism profile.

DHCC, a health and wellness destination that brings together a wealth of services in healthcare, medical education and research, surveyed physicians on their views, observations and expectations of medical tourism in Dubai – a focus key for the emirate.

Key findings state 48 per cent medical tourists come primarily from the GCC; 32 per cent from the wider Arab World. The three most popular procedures are: first, infertility treatments, second, cosmetic treatments, and third, dental.

DHCC-based physicians reported that 80 per cent of medical tourists come to Dubai for quality of care.

“Hearing from our partners, who are in regular contact with medical tourists, on their views and the feedback they receive is essential to helping us improve our offerings. As a strategic priority for DHCC, we are committed to increasing the flow of medical tourists visiting Dubai. We can achieve this with regular feedback and cooperation among our partner clinics and hospitals as well as medical tourism facilitators,” said Marwan Abedin, Chief Executive Officer of DHCC.

In its efforts to strengthen Dubai’s position as a preferred destination for medical tourism, DHCC actively participates in international and regional medical travel conferences and events.

source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com / Khaleej Times / Home> Health / WAM / August 17th, 2014