Category Archives: Medical Treatment/Health Treatment Subject By Speciality

New center to promote health tourism in India

Posted on May 22, 2013 | Comments Off on New center to promote health tourism in India
Mohammad Raghib Qureshi, head of chancery at the Indian Consulate, browses a brochure after launching the Healthcare Tourism Information Center in Jeddah on Sunday. — SG photo

Mohammad Raghib Qureshi, head of chancery at the Indian Consulate, browses a brochure after launching the Healthcare Tourism Information Center in Jeddah on Sunday. — SG photo

Jeddah:

India on Sunday launched an information center in Jeddah to provide guidance and assistance to people seeking healthcare in the country.

To be operated by TIARAIAM on the premises of the Consulate General of India, the Healthcare Tourism Information Center (HTIC) will be open to all Saudi residents looking for treatment in India.

The center will make available informative materials about various treatment facilities, including Ayurvedic, naturopathy and yoga centers spread across India.

Mohammad Raghib Qureshi, head of chancery at the consulate, formally inaugurated the HTIC.

Speaking on the occasion, Qureshi said, “India has one of the best healthcare facilities in the world and so many patients from all over the Gulf seek treatment in the country. It’s good if they are provided specific information about various hospitals and institutions,” he said, adding that the project is expected to boost the volume of healthcare tourism traffic to the country.

“We want to give more and more facilities as well as information to them. The medical expenditure in India is a fraction of the cost of having medical treatment in the Western countries, and I am sure (with the right information available) more and more people will go to India for treatment,” said Qureshi.

Around 850,000 tourists visited India in 2011 for treatment, which increased to 1.1 million in 2012. This is a clear indication that India is becoming the most sought-after Asian destination for healthcare tourism. Industry estimates peg the growth of India’s healthcare tourism market at almost 25 percent annually.

Fareed Sardar Khan, managing director of TIARAIAM, said: “India provides value for money and the cost of treatment is lower than many other countries. We will coordinate with the patients in Saudi Arabia and send their medical reports to the best hospitals and other healthcare setups, and source the advice from the best team of doctors free of charge. This cuts down the burden on the already suffering patient.”

Services provided by the HTIC include recommendation of the best doctors, hospitals, and Ayurvedic, naturopathy and yoga centers for different types of diseases, consultation from abroad, post-treatment follow-up, and many more.

“When the patient decides to visit India, we provide assistance with regard to visa formalities, airport pickups, ambulance service and translators, as well as guidance and advice on leisure tourism. The best thing is all these services are provided at no cost at all,” added Khan.

source: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa / Saudi Gazette / Home> Kingdom / by Syeda Amtul, Saudi Gazette / Monday – May 20th, 2013

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S. Korea clinics, hospitals target medical tourists from S’pore and region

Posted on May 19, 2013 | Comments Off on S. Korea clinics, hospitals target medical tourists from S’pore and region
A patient undergoing facial acupuncture at Kwangdong Oriental Hospital in Seoul. Industry insiders in South Korea say Singapore, as an established medical tourism destination, will pose keen competition. -- PHOTO: KWANGDONG ORIENTAL HOSPITAL

A patient undergoing facial acupuncture at Kwangdong Oriental Hospital in Seoul. Industry insiders in South Korea say Singapore, as an established medical tourism destination, will pose keen competition. — PHOTO: KWANGDONG ORIENTAL HOSPITAL

Medical clinics and hospitals in South Korea are on a major drive to woo foreign patients, including those from Singapore and the region.

They are joined by medical travel agencies, “book a doctor” portals and hotels, which are tying up with the clinics to offer their guests lower treatment rates.

The effort, however, will not be a walk in the park, said industry insiders in South Korea, because Singapore, as an established medical tourism destination, will pose keen competition.

Singapore Tourism Board figures show foreigners spent about $1 billion on medical treatments here in 2011.

 

BACKGROUND STORY

Before you fly…

FAST facts for a medical traveller to South Korea

IN 2012

About 156,000 medical tourists visited South Korea. People from China, the United States, Russia and Japan led the way. The top five services foreign patients bought were:

  • Internal medicine
  • Health screening
  • Dermatology
  • Plastic surgery
  • Obstetrics and gynaecology 

HOT SPOTS

Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province treat more than 70 per cent of the foreign patients. Busan is next. In Seoul, 154 dermatology clinics, 319 plastic surgery clinics and 317 dental clinics take in foreign patients.

PRECAUTIONS

The Korea Tourism Organization recommends taking these steps:

  • Find out if the hospital or clinic is registered with the Korean government.
  • Before flying there, get in touch with a coordinator who speaks your language.
  • Check the receipt or invoice, preferably before the procedure.

Unsatisfactory service may be reported to the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency.

Source: Korea Tourism Organization

source: http://www.straitstimes.com / The Sunday Times / Home> Breaking News> Singapore> Story / by Poon Chian Hui / May 18th, 2013

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Herculane Spa topping priorities of health tourism development strategy

Posted on May 14, 2013 | Comments Off on Herculane Spa topping priorities of health tourism development strategy

Bucharest : (AGERPRES).

The Herculane spa ranks first in the country’s strategic plan for the development of health tourism, Minister-delegate for SMEs, Business Environment and Tourism Maria Grapini declared recently while on a visit to the resort lying on the Cerna river (south-west of Bucharest).

Spa tourism is the major priority in the government’s tourism strategy, followed by cultural tourism and ecotourism.

“I am about to take tough measures. Whoever committed to buying here must observe this pledge, for whoever doesn’t I would suggest we should go as far as seizing property. There are historic buildings here that can berefurbished and brought to their former shape. I’ll personally see which investor left these buildings in this derelict state. The property right will be respected, but taking after European models we will oblige these people to relinquish them if they do not have the necessary material resources,” said Minister-delegate Maria Grapini.

The Minister of Tourism considers that it is unacceptable for an area with tourism potential above EU average and one-of-a-kind objectives to go unattended. For this reason, the historic buildings in Herculane will be restored and re-commissioned so that the spa gets back to its former glory and the Romanians draw a double benefit, as tourists, but also an economic advantage.

“If we develop, we will collect higher incomes. The spa’s condition is far worse compared to the years before 1990. The springs and buildings are mostly damaged. They say the state is a poor manager, but here in Herculane the buildings are privately owned and are in an equally bad condition,” Grapini said.

The Tourism Minister blamed the local government for failing to find the legal means to compel the guilty.

According to Herculane mayor Nicusor Vasilescu, the most urgent works are related to water and sewer infrastructure and the revamping of streets.

The Minister of Tourism visited the hotels Dacia and Domogled, the Roman Hotel, the Neptune Baths and the Afrodita Hotel, the latter being completely renovated and modernized as a European-standard treatment facility.

source: http://www.bsanna-news.ukrinform.ua / BSANNA news / The Black Sea Association of National News Agencies / AGERPRES / May 13th, 2013

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Tourism project for island off Doha

Posted on May 9, 2013 | Comments Off on Tourism project for island off Doha

Qatar-based hospitality giant Katara Hospitality is to develop an island near the Ritz-Carlton Doha as an international tourist spot and open hotels in Paris and Milan in the coming months.
Katara Hospitality CEO Hamad Abdulla al-Mulla  told Gulf Times in an interview on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai that the island, owned by the group near Ritz, would be either developed as a  fashion centre or a medical tourism hub.  He also said that Katara Hospitality planned to launch about 10 hotels in the next 10 years.

Hamad Abdulla al-Mulla: Katara Hospitality CEO

Hamad Abdulla al-Mulla: Katara Hospitality CEO

“The hotel in Paris will be opened in the first week of June and in September this year another hotel in Milan will be launched. Katara Hospitality is the only group that is opening so many hotels each year in the recent times.” 
Al-Mulla said the group was ready to operate the Milan hotel at any time. “From our side we are ready and we have got all the requirements to start the hotel. If there is any delay from the contractor’s side, we will open it by the first quarter of 2014.”
He further said the island off Doha would be developed into a “unique” project. “We are exploring the possibility of turning it into a unique place so that people from all over the world will fly to Qatar to experience it. We are looking for the possibilities of turning it into a fashion centre or medical tourism place or any such grand  project which will be known internationally. Once we finalise the project, we will entrust it to the right people to develop it .”

He  disclosed that Doha Sheraton would be closed for major renovation and  rebranded once the work was completed. “Doha Sheraton will be closed for two years for major renovation from 2014-2016. Once the renovation is completed, it will be rebranded but the operator will continue to be the same.”
As for the Lusail project, al-Mulla said it would be completed according to schedule.  “The Lusail hotel will be the landmark of Qatar and Katara Hospitality.  It will  be completed, latest by early 2017. At any cost we will start operations from 2017.”
He said that the hotel would be operated by Katara Hospitality. “We will be operating the hotel and we want to show to others that we can do it like any other operator. Similarly, we will be operating other hotels under our group in later years.”
The CEO said Katara Hospitality had property worth  QR150bn. “The group will have  around 6,000 employees by 2014.”

As for the projects in Gambia and Maldives, al-Mulla said  the group was ready to start the projects. “However, we are evaluating the market and  studying the feasibility before starting the project. According to the market evaluation, we will start the project. We will be there very soon.”
Operational hotels like Raffles Singapore, Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, Schweizerhof Bern and upcoming hotels like Excelsior Gallia Milan, Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Royal Savoy Lausanne or The Peninsula Paris are hospitality jewels that are now part of Katara Hospitality portfolio.

source: http://www.gulf-times.com / Gulf Times / by Joseph Varghese, Staff Reporter / Doha, Qatar – May 07th, 2013

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Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara bags Global award for Best Resort

Posted on April 23, 2013 | Comments Off on Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara bags Global award for Best Resort

Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara was recognized as the “Best Ayurveda Resort” at the 4th FIT Health and Wellness Awards held at ITB 2013 in Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade fair. The FIT Health and Wellness Awards are presented in three categories- “Best Ayurveda Resort”, “Best Health and Spa Resort” and “Best Active Wellness Resort”. FIT Reisen is Europe’s largest tour operator for wellness holidays. The accolade was awarded based on guest experiences with similar resorts across the globe.

Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara and Malin Hapugoda (Managing Director, Aitken Spence Hotels ) receiving the award

Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara and Malin Hapugoda (Managing Director, Aitken Spence Hotels ) receiving the award

ITB Berlin 2013 is the world’s largest meeting point of international tourism decision- makers and business leaders. The global tourism industry acclaims this summits’ dual function of a travel trade fair, to be the largest in the world and it acts as a global platform for diverse resorts to present itself.

Since time immemorial, man has been engaged in the pursuit of achieving and maintaining an optimum state of health.

The emergence of Ayurveda in 600 BC as a natural way of healing has grown in global popularity as it has evolved into a scientific system of holistic healing.

The resorts novel delivery of a professional Ayurvedic experience without the compromise of luxury has enabled it to carve its niche in the minds of wellness enthusiasts globally. This has helped Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara pave its way to been regarded as the “Best Ayurveda Resort” per global standards.

“Ayurveda has evolved into a holistic lifestyle system and it is viewed as a system of treatment and comprehensive health care”, said Samantha Gunarathne, General Manager, Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara.

“The maintenance of constant innovation into adapting the traditional rituals of the Ayurvedic practice has helped Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara offer a differentiated unmatched experience.

A consistent trend across the Heritance portfolio is the ability to incorporate the rich culture and tradition into the processes adopted by our resorts”, said Malin Hapugoda, Managing Director, Aitken Spence Hotels.

Aitken Spence is Sri Lanka’s largest resort operator and one of the largest international hotel operators in the Maldives. The group also manages a portfolio of hotels in India and Oman. The company’s premier resorts operate under the brand Heritance.

source: http://www.dailynews.lk / Daily News / Home / Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

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