Lok Sabha Question No. 3689 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Medical Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†3689 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## MEDICAL TOURISM

## †3689. SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a large number of patients of foreign nationalities are coming to our country for medical treatment and surgery;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the foreign exchange earned therefrom during each of the last three years and the current year; and
- (d) the contribution of medical tourism in the country's economy and  the  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to enhance the contribution of medical tourism in the country's economy?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

- (a):
- Yes, Madam.
- The  number  of  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  (FTAs)  in  India  for
- (b): medical purpose during 2016 were 4,27,014.
- (c): The Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through medical tourism in India is not available, separately. However, the total FEEs through tourism during 2015, 2016 and 2017 were Rs.1,35,193 crore, Rs.1,54,146 crore and Rs.1,80,379 crore (provisional), respectively.
- (d): The share of foreign tourists arriving for medical purpose was 4.85% in the year 2016. This information is not available for the year 2017.

Ministry  of  Tourism  has  recognized  Medical  and  Wellness Tourism  as  Niche  Tourism  Product  for  promotion.  The  Ministry offers  financial  support  as  Marketing  Development  Assistance,  for Publicity and for organising Wellness and Medical Tourism Promotion shows as well as workshop/events/seminars to accredited  Medical  and  Wellness  Tourism  Service  Providers  and Chambers of Commerce, etc.

A  film  on  Medical  Tourism  has  been  produced  in  association with  BBC  and  is  used  at  various  fora  for  promotional  purposes. Medical and Medical attendant visa has been introduced to ease the travel  process  of  Medical  Tourists.  The  e-tourist  visa  regime  has also been expanded to include medical visits as well.

The Department of Commerce and Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) has launched a Healthcare Portal www.indiahealthcaretourism.com, as a single source platform providing  comprehensive  information  to  medical  travellers  on  the top healthcare institutions in the country. This portal is available in English, Arabic, Russian and French languages.

Further,  A  National  Medical  and  Wellness  Tourism  Board  has also been constituted to provide a dedicated institutional framework to take forward the cause of promotion of Medical and Wellness Tourism including Ayurveda and any other format of Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH). The Board works as an umbrella organization to  promote  this  segment  of  tourism  in  an  organized  manner  and therefore  integrates  AYUSH  streams  into  the  purview  of  Medical Tourism. It has also been decided to set up facilitation counters at the  major  airports  of  Delhi,  Mumbai,  Chennai,  Kolkata,  Hyderabad and Bengaluru for tourists arriving on Medical Visas.

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