National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism

• 15 Mar 2022

For Prelims: Medical Visa, Medical and Wellness Tourism

For Mains: Government Policies & Interventions, National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism, India as a Medical and Wellness Tourism destination,

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism.

• The policy envisages promoting India as a Medical Value Travel (MVT) and Wellness destination.

What is Medical and Wellness Tourism?

• Medical & Wellness tourism may be defined as ‘activities related to travel and hosting a foreign tourist who stays at least one night at the destination region for the purpose of maintaining, improving or restoring health through medical intervention’ .

What are the Key Points of the Roadmap?

• Mission: To create a robust framework and synergy amongst the Ministries of Central Government and State Governments and Private Sector for promoting India as a Medical Value Travel (MVT) and Wellness destination.
• New Agency: For this, a new National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board will be created as Minister of Tourism as its Chairman.
  • It will provide a dedicated institutional framework to take forward the cause of promotion of Wellness & Medical Tourism.
• Key Strategic Pillars: The Strategy has identified the following key pillars:
  • Develop a brand for India as a wellness destination.
  • Strengthen the ecosystem for medical and wellness tourism.
  • Enable digitalization by setting up Online MVT Portal.
  • Enhancement of accessibility for MVT.
  • Promoting Wellness Tourism.
  • Governance and Institutional Framework.

What does SWOT Analysis of Medical Tourism in India Reveal?
Strengths:	India has world-class doctors and hospitals The cost of the treatment is a fraction of the cost in the source markets The increasing popularity of India as a tourist destination in the west. India offers a range of tourism opportunities to Medical Value Traveller to combine the treatment with visit to tourist destinations. Eastern Healthcare Wisdom along with the expertise of Western Medicine Eastern: Traditional Healthcare Therapies like Yoga, Ayurveda & Naturopathy. Western: Allopathy Fast track appointments.
Weaknesses:	Unorganised MVT Framework: There are no regulations to govern MVT sector, which leaves the sector unorganised and lack of monitoring the quality of services. Lack of a nodal body to spearhead Medical Value Travel. No campaign for India as a MVT destination. Lack of awareness about National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) accreditation at the international level. Lack of uniform pricing policies across the Hospitals. Western perception of India as an unhygienic country.
Opportunity:	Demand from Countries with an Ageing population. Demand for Wellness and Alternative cures. Long waiting periods in developed countries. Demand from countries with undeveloped medical facilities. India has a huge diaspora and they can combine their visit to India with medical treatment. Improved Connectivity.
Threat:	Regional Competition. Lack of international accreditation. Overseas medical care not covered by the insurer. Exploitation by middlemen.

What are the Steps taken for the Promotion of Medical and Wellness Tourism?

• The Ministry of Tourism, releases global print, electronic and online media campaigns in important and potential markets overseas, under the ‘Incredible India’ brand line.
• 'Medical Visa’ has been introduced, which can be given for specific purposes to foreign travellers coming to India for medical treatment.
  • ‘E- Medical Visa’ and ‘E-Medical Attendant Visa’ have also been introduced for 156 countries.
• The Ministry of Tourism provides financial Assistance under Market Development Assistance Scheme to Medical Tourism Service Providers accredited by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) for participation in Medical/ Tourism activities.

What are Other Major Schemes of the Ministry of Tourism?

• Iconic Tourist Sites Initiative
• DekhoApnaDesh Campaign
• PRASHAD Scheme
• Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Way Forward

• ‘One India One Tourism’ Approach: Tourism encompasses multiple ministries and takes place in and within many states and thus requires collective efforts and cooperation with centre and other states.
• Promoting Ease of Tourism: To truly ensure a seamless tourist transportation experience we need to standardise all interstate road taxes and make them payable at a single point which will facilitate the ease of doing business.

Source: PIB