Lok Sabha Question No. 2051 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Medical Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT, ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR, RANJIT SINGH  BRAHMPURA, KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU, JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA, RAVNEET SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2051

## LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016

## MEDICAL TOURISM

†2051. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

SHRI RANJIT SINGH BRAHMPURA:

SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has implemented any scheme for the development and promotion of medical tourism in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the objectives thereof;
- (b) the  funds  allocated  in  this  regard  during  the  last  three  years and  the  current  year,  year-wise  and  State-wise  including Punjab and  Kerala along with the details of funds utilised by the State Governments;
- (c) the  number  of  foreign  tourists  who  visited  the  country  on health/medical  tourism  and  the  revenue  generated  therefrom during the last three years, State/UT-wise including Goa along with  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ease  the  visa norms for medical treatment;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  revise  the guidelines  regulatory  framework  for  Medical  Tourism  and Wellness Tourism and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether proper emphasis has been laid on Ayurveda, Yoga and other Indian systems of medicine in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a): Realizing  the  potential  to  develop  and  promote  Wellness  and Medical  Tourism  as  a  niche  product  and  with  the  objective  of promoting  India  as  a  holistic  tourism  destination  for  365  days has

offering varied niche products, the Ministry of Tourism formulated guidelines for the promotion of Medical Tourism.

As  per  the  existing  guidelines  the  following  assistance  is provided  to  the  eligible  stakeholders  subject  to  adherence  of  the prescribed conditions and procedures:

- i. Financial assistance up to Rs.2.00 lakh for participating in  fairs/events/Road  shows  approved  by  the  Ministry  of Tourism  in  the  overseas  markets  under  the  Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) scheme.
- ii. Financial  assistance  in  the  ratio  of  50:50  for  making publicity and promotional material subject to a maximum ceiling of Rs.10.00 lakh.
- iii. Financial  assistance  up  to  a  maximum  of  Rs.25.00  lakh on 50:50 sharing basis for organizing Wellness & Medical Tourism promotion shows.
- iv. Permission  for  the  use  of  Incredible  India  logo  for  the Wellness  &  Medical  Tourism  promotion  events,  films, literature etc.
- v. Financial  support  for  training  courses  focused  on  skill providing, skill up-gradation and skill certification courses for the persons engaged in Wellness & Medical Tourism sector as per the Capacity Building for Service Providers  (CBSP)  scheme  guidelines  of  the  Ministry  of Tourism.
- vi. Provision  of  space  up  to  4  square  meters  to  Wellness and/or Medical Tourism Associations at major international  fairs  for  promoting  Wellness  &  Medical Tourism at cost.

The Ministry of Tourism promotes Medical Tourism for boosting inflow of foreign tourists in a holistic manner, inter alia, by running campaigns in the international markets under the Incredible India  brand-line;  conducting  Road  Shows,  Know  India  Seminars; participating in major international tourism fairs and exhibitions and also supporting Events/Seminars/ Conferences which have focus on health and medical tourism. The Ministry of Tourism also produces brochures, CDs, films and other publicity material for promotion of Medical & Health Tourism.

(b): Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to stakeholders  and  the  assistance  provided  during  the  last  three years and the current year are given in the Annexure. (c): The  number  of  foreign  tourists,  who  visited  the  country  for health/medical tourism during the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 were 236898,  184298  and  234307  respectively.  The  Ministry  of  Tourism does not compile Foreign Exchange Earnings according to purpose or revenue generated exclusively through tourists coming  for Medical treatment. The Government of India has introduced Medical Visa  for  the  foreign  patients  who  come  to  India  for  their  medical treatment. (d) & (e): In order to provide a dedicated institutional framework to take forward the cause of promotion of Medical Tourism, Wellness Tourism and Yoga, Ayurveda Tourism and any other format of Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy  (AYUSH),  a  National  Medical  and  Wellness  Tourism Board  has  been  set  up  to  work  as  an  umbrella  organization  that governs  and  promotes  this  segment  of  tourism  in  an  organized manner.    Three  sub-committees  have  also  been  constituted  under the  National  Medical  and  Wellness  Tourism  Board  to  look  into various issues as detailed below:-

- 1) Regulatory, Including Visa Issues.
- 2) Accreditation of Hospitals and Allied Services.
- 3) Marketing and Promotion.

********

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2051 ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016 REGARDING MEDICAL TOURISM.

Showing the Amount Released During the Years 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 & 2016-17 (Till October, 2016) On Medical Tourism

(Amount in Rupees)

| Sl. No.   | Name of the project                                       | Payment released to                                           | Amount released   |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| 2013-14   | 2013-14                                                   | 2013-14                                                       | 2013-14           |
| 1.        | Financial Assistance for International Cosmetic Symposium | The Society of Cosmetic Surgenium, Bandra, Mumbai             | 10,00,000         |
| 2.        | Med venture Business Summit, Singapore                    | M/s. Sunshine Hospital, PG Road, Sikundrabad                  | 1,00,464          |
| 3.        | MDA for IMTD-Road Show (Kenya-Tanzania                    | M/s. Sterling Hospital, Ahmadabad                             | 1,50,000          |
| 4.        | MDA for Medical Tourism                                   | M/s. Amla Ayurvedic Hospital & Research Centre, Kerala        | 1,74,020          |
| 5.        | -do-                                                      | M/s. Indian Holiday Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi                      | 4,00,000          |
| 6.        | MDA for Medical/ Wellness Tourism                         | M/s. A.B. Hotels Ltd., New Delhi (The Spla Blue Plaza, Delhi) | 1,46,681          |
| 7.        | ITB -2013, Berlin                                         | M/s. Sokya Indian Holistic Health Centre, Bangalore           | 56,805            |
| 2014-15   | 2014-15                                                   | 2014-15                                                       | 2014-15           |
| 1.        | MDA for IMTD-2013 (Nigeria)                               | M/s. Yashoda Healthcare Services Pvt. Ltd., Secundrabad       | 2,00,000          |
| 2.        | -do-                                                      | M/s. Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital, Somajigudda           | 2,00,000          |
| 3.        | -do-                                                      | M/s. Jupitor Lifeline Hospital Pvt., Thane                    | 2,00,000          |
| 4.        | ITB Berlin-2014                                           | Indian Holiday Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi                           | 2,00,000          |
| 5.        | IMTD-2013 (Nigeria)                                       | Wokhrdat Hospital Ltd., Goa                                   | 2,00,000          |

| 6.                           | MITT-2014                                    | Rajah Beach Ayurvedic Hospital, Kerala                              | 2,00,000   |
|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|
| 7.                           | ILTM Exhibition, Cannes (France)             | Soukya India Holistic Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore               | 2,00,000   |
| 8.                           | IMTD-2013 (Nigeria)                          | M/s. Wokhrdat Hospital, Nagpur                                      | 2,00,000   |
| 9.                           | ATM-2014 (Dubai)                             | M/s. Indian Holiday Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi                            | 2,00,000   |
| 10.                          | IMTD-2013 (Nigeria)                          | M/s. Kerala First Health Services Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore               | 1,12,500   |
| 11.                          | Medical & Wellness Tourism Summit-2014       | M/s. PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, New Delhi                  | 10,00,000  |
| 12.                          | Integrated Health together                   | M/s. Soukya Foundation Charitable Trust, Bangalore                  | 5,03,043   |
| 2015-16                      | 2015-16                                      |                                                                     |            |
| 1.                           | Fitur - 2015 (Spain)                         | M/s. Advatach Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata                         | 56,548     |
| 2.                           | WTM London-2014                              | M/s. Indian Holiday Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi                            | 2,00,000   |
| 3.                           | International Summit on Medical Value Travel | M/s. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) | 12,54,000  |
| 4.                           | Global Cancer Summit- 2015                   | M/s. Bio Genesis Health cluster, Bangalore                          | 5,00,000   |
| 5.                           | Summit - 2016 on Medical & Wellness Tourism  | PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi                    | 10,00,000  |
| 2016-17 (Till October, 2016) | 2016-17 (Till October, 2016)                 | 2016-17 (Till October, 2016)                                        |            |
| 1.                           | ATM, Dubai Exhibition - 2016                 | M/s. Indian Holiday Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi                            | 2,00,000   |

******