Category Archives: Reports,Features, Statistics

Imphal :

While re-asserting the Government’s commitment to ensure a better healthcare system in the State, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has called upon medical practitioners to contribute their mite in transforming Manipur into a health tourism hotspot.

Speaking as the chief guest at the 18th annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India, Manipur State Chapter at RIMS Jubilee hall today, the CM said inspite of financial constraints there would be no compromise in the health care sector as focus continues to be on social health insurance scheme to cater to the poor and vulnerable people.

Stating that steps have ben initiated to provide quality services by revitalising health infrastructure and rejuvenate existing hospitals with better ones at the earliest, Ibobi noting many centres in India fast becoming health tourism hotspots, opined that Manipur with it geographical location can also become an important centre for catering health services to neighbouring State as international neighbours such as Myanmar.

CM inaugurates the 18th annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India, Manipur State Chapter at RIMS Jubilee hall

Reposing faith upon the surgeons/doctors to contribute their mite in realising the goal of transforming Manipur into a health tourism hotspot, he also pointed out that mass disaster management remains one of the prime concerns for the Government on account of the State’s location in a seismically active zone.

Noting that RIMS already has a draft disaster policy in place and suggesting that medical personnel maintain constant vigil to face any eventualities triggered by natural disasters, he affirmed that the State Government is ever ready to extend all possible cooperation in check collateral loss.

Highlighting that problems related to health have a critical impact on the development and prosperity of the country as these problems are complex and interlinked, Ibobi also conceded even though policy-makers are aware of the seriousness of the problem, there is very little awareness of its different dimensions among the broader category of opinion makers and the informed public.

A kind of pressure can be generated by creating a broader awareness of the problem which generates pressure to bring about corrective action and also sufficiently broad based understanding of the problem to make corrective action politically acceptable and also implementable in the field, said the Chief Minister.

Conveying appreciation to the Association for bringing together leading specialists from the public and private organizations to share knowledge and skills with a view to provide quality healthcare in the country, he opined that such annual congregation need to be capitalised to take stock and share opinions so that outcome of the deliberations lead to the policy framework development.

Expressing that goal of the Government is to ensure long and healthy life for all citizens, increase the life expectancy and ensure that all people have access to healthcare, the CM said key outputs in this regard are to reduce the mortality rate, reduce the impact and prevalence of HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases, and to ensure an effective health care system.

To achieve these outputs, our key activities include ensuring a well-coordinated health system with special focus on communicable and non-communicable diseases, maintained the Chief Minister.

assuring all possible initiative in his capacity to ensure that shortage of infrastructure and technologies do not come in the way of providing quality healthcare to our people, he also applauded the ASI State Chapter for diligently carrying out their academic activities with precision.

The annual conference organised as IHPB Surgery – ASIMANICON 2013 was presided over ASI Manipur State Chapter president Prof Ksh Kala Singh while MLA Dr N Bijoy Singh, Prof S Sekharjit Singh, Director RIMS; and Dr Suresh Chandra Hari, President, ASI (HQ) graced the inaugural programme as the guests of honour.

According to Prof S Sekharjit Singh theme of the annual conference this year is ‘Management of Breast Cancer Paradigm Shift’.

A workshop for medical students with specialist doctors on breast cancer, including three from Japan, was held yesterday ahead of the conference, he informed.

source: http://www.e-pao.net / E-PAO / Home> Wellness / source: The Sangai Express / Imphal (Manipur) – October 19th, 2013

A public and private partnership comprised of business leaders and health officials in the province of Guanacaste are attempting to jump-start the medical tourism industry of Costa Rica. A few days ago, a regional initiative named Guanacaste Health and Travel was unveiled. This initiative will try to shift the bulk of medical tourism to the Pacific Northwest region of Costa Rica .

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The immediate goal of the new Guanacaste Health and Travel initiative is to attract 3,000 medical tourists to the province. These are tourists who arrive in Costa Rica looking for affordable medical procedures  and the opportunity to enjoy their convalescent care along with relaxation and entertainment activities. According to a recent report by Cesar Brenes Quiros of business weekly El Financiero, Guanacaste wants to stand out by highlighting its superior safety, quality of care and natural wonders.

This move to brand Guanacaste as the premier destination for medical tourists in Costa Rica comes in the wake of disappointing figures for this particular industry. Medical tourism may have seen its heyday during the Great American Recession , which is thought to have ended in late 2011. At that time, there was a rush to capture a great influx of health tourists; however, they did not arrive in the desired levels.

According to industry observers, one of the problems behind medical tourism in Costa Rica was that there are too many unqualified operators chasing after the same tourists. These operators are not only too fragmented; they are also failing in the areas of marketing and quality control. The Guanacaste Health and Travel initiative seeks to address these issues and to form an alliance with key business entities such as:

Part of the plan will include offering free, comprehensive medical checkups to tourists who are not aware of the quality health care available in Costa Rica. The main health disciplines promoted will include orthopedics, cosmetic surgery, dental procedures, gynecology, and ophtalmology. A secondary goal will involve promoting premier beach communities such as Playa Hermosa and Playas del Coco as great places to recover and even consider future retirement.

source: http://www.news.co.cr / Costa Rica News / Home> Costa Rica News / by Jamie Lopez / October 18th, 2013

Manama, Bahrain :

India can be a major health tourism destination for Bahraini and GCC nationals and residents, leading medical industry professionals have said.

Those seeking treatment abroad due to the lack of inexpensive specialist services here can now look to India for excellent medical care.

According to Indian Medical Association (IMA) Bahrain Chapter president Dr Babu Ramachandran, the shift in destination from countries like the UK, Germany and the US to India is mainly being driven by cost considerations and comparable quality of service.

India, Dr Ramachandran told the GDN, has a highly skilled workforce, world-class locally manufactured drugs, implants, consumables and medical equipment as well as accredited hospitals with world-class infrastructure and research facilities.

“It is an opportunity we would like to highlight during the Bahrain-India Conference and Exhibition next week,” Dr Ramachandran said.

Some the biggest private healthcare providers in India will be represented by the IMA at the first-ever such event, themed ‘Bahrain-India Economic Partnership: Springboard to Access Wider Markets’.

“Delegates from India will explore potential opportunities in the region, which would mainly target medical tourism,” he said.

“We know that many Indian providers are endeavouring to open healthcare facilities in the region to obviate need to travel to India.”

The premier India-focused, trade and industry event is being held from October 22 to 24, at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

As part of the conference, a seminar titled ‘Bilateral opportunities in the healthcare sector” will also be held under the patronage of Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi.

Echoing the view expressed by Dr Ramachandran, Reinsurance Group of America regional director for health Dr Dennis Sebastian, who will also participate in the exhibition, said Bahrain had limited tertiary care facilities, most of which were in the public sector with expatriates restricted in accessing them.

“India has a number of centres of excellence providing high-quality tertiary and secondary care facilities, specially in treatment of cancer, heart diseases and for cosmetic and orthopaedic purposes.

“Considering that this area is progressing towards compulsory medical insurance, there are various collaborations and ventures that can be explored,” he said.

According to a McKinsey & Company report, the GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – will face an unparalleled and unprecedented rise in demand for healthcare over the course of the next decade.

The company estimates that total healthcare spending in the region will reach $60 billion in 2025.

source: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com / Gulf Daily News / Home> Business News / by Avinash Saxena   avinash@gdn.com.bh  / Thursday – October 17th, 2013