To promote Medical Tourism in the country, Ministry of Tourism has extended the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme to include Medical Tourism in its purview from February, 2009. The Ministry provides financial support under the Market Development Assistance Scheme (MDA) to following approved Medical Tourism Service providers engaged in Medical Tourism, subject to adherence to scheme guidelines and availability of funds:
(i) Representatives of Hospitals accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI) and the National Accreditation Board of Hospitals and Healthcare Services (NABH).
(ii) Medical Tourism facilitators (Travel Agents/Tour Operators) approved by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
The Ministry of Tourism also organizes road shows in the overseas markets, participates in travel marts, and creates brochures, CDs, films and other publicity materials for promotion of Medical Tourism.
Medical Tourism is also an emerging niche segment of Tourism Industry in India. The total Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India & percentage of foreign tourists who came for the purpose of Medical Treatment during the period 2009 to 2011 is as follows:
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|||
| Total FTAs(in numbers) | Total no. of Foreign tourists who came for medical treatment | Total FTAs(in numbers) | Total no. of Foreign tourists who came for medical treatment | Total FTAs(in numbers) | Total no. of Foreign tourists who came for medical treatment |
| 5167699 | 113689 | 5775692 | 155944 | 6309222 | 138803 |
This was stated by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family
Welfare in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.
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MV/GM
source: http://www.pib.nic.in / Press Information Bureau, Government of India / Home> Ministry of Health & Family Welfare / Release ID:101717 / December 13th, 2013
