Kochi :
The medical tourism industry in the state will touch $ 4 billion by 2017, according to a study conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry along with McKinsey.
“It is from Maldives that the highest number of medical tourists are coming to the state and the state’s greatest disadvantage to attract medical tourists is the lack of proper connectivity, said the organisers of the international conference and exhibition on health tourism. The conference will be held on October 30 and 31 in Kochi. Held in partnership with the government, KHT 2015 will witness congregation of major hospitals, health insurance companies, policy makers, tourism promotion boards, hotels and resorts, health travel and tour operators and international institutions for promotion of health tourism.
“Chennai alone gets 500 patients per day from overseas. Our target is to attract 300 patients per day from abroad to Kerala,” said Dr Harish Pillai of Aster Medicity in a press conference held in this connection here on Thursday. Dr Azad Moopan of the hospital is the chairman of the fifth edition of KHT. A trade forum Kerala Health Mart with the active involvement of the government and industry players would be formed following the conference to ensure that the promotion activities associated with health tourism are kept alive and robust. This trade forum would be officially launched at the inaugural.
“The CII is conducting a study on the contribution of the KHT to the GDP of the state,” Dr Harish Pillai said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / October 09th, 2015
