Lok Sabha Question No. 4274 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Proposal to Raise Awareness about Medical Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dayanidhi Maran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4274 ANSWERED ON 27.03.2023

## PROPOSAL TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT MEDICAL TOURISM

## 4274. SHRI DAYANIDHI MARAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has developed any policy or proposal to promote  and  raise  awareness  globally  about  medical  tourism, especially in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  increase  the  access  of medical  tourism,  which  provides  new  opportunities  to  health sector;
- (c) whether the Government has held any consultations or assessment on sector data of the last five years and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if  not,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  monitoring  the same?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a): In order to boost Medical Tourism in the country including in the state  of  Tamil  Nadu,  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  formulated  a  National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism. The Strategy has identified the following key pillars:
- (i). Develop a brand for India as a wellness destination
- (ii).
- Strengthen the ecosystem for medical and wellness tourism
- (iii).  Enable  digitalization  by  setting  up  Online  Medical  Value Travel (MVT) Portal
- (iv). Enhancement of accessibility for Medical Value Travel
- (v). Promoting Wellness Tourism
- (vi).  Governance and Institutional Framework

(b) to (d): The  Government  of  India  liberalized  the  e-Tourist  Visa Scheme  pursuant  to  the  cabinet  approval  on  30.11.2016  and  the  eTourist  Visa  (eTV)  scheme  was  renamed  to  e-Visa  scheme  and,  at present,  it  has  e-medical  Visa  and  e-Medical  Attendant  Visa  as  subcategories of e-visa.

In the case of e-Medical Visa and for e-medical Attendant Visa, triple entry is permitted and extension may be granted up to 6 months on  case  to  case  basis  on  merits  of  each  case  by  the  Foreigners Regional  Registration  Officers  (FRRO)/Foreigners  Registration  officer (FRO)  concerned.  Medical  Attendant  Visa  was  co-terminus  with  the validity of the principal e visa holder.

The  details  of  Foreign  Tourists  Arrivals  on  Medical  purpose during year 2017-2021 is as follows:

|   Year |   Medical Purpose (in lakh) |
|--------|-----------------------------|
|   2017 |                        4.95 |
|   2018 |                        6.44 |
|   2019 |                        6.97 |
|   2020 |                        1.83 |
|   2021 |                        3.04 |

Source: Bureau of Immigration (BOI)

Further, as conveyed by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, it is coordinating with other Ministries and stakeholders to promote medical  value  travel  in  the  country.  Several  rounds  of  stakeholder consultations  have  been  conducted  with  line  Ministries,  Hospitals, MVT facilitators, Insurance Companies and NABH etc. to identify the challenges and opportunities in the sector.

*****