The Ministry of Ayush is partnering with the Ministry of Tourism’s India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to promote medical value travel.
The partnership will identify tourist routes where there is scope to promote medical value travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. The Ministry will also provide technical know-how to ITDC, plus training on medical travel in Ayurveda.
On the suggestion of the Ministry of Ayush, ITDC has said it will include historical heritage sites of Indian systems of medicine in tourist destinations. It will explore establishing Ayurveda and Yoga centres in the hotels run by ITDC and will organise collaborative workshops.
The implementation and progress will be monitored by a joint working group co-chaired by representatives from the Ministry and ITDC. The group will also identify the best practices adopted by Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand to promote themselves as a preferred destination for medical value travel.
India sees a significant opportunity for using traditional medical practices like ayurveda in medical value travel (MVT). It also recognises that there is a need to build a resilient and sustainable MVT framework, with a focus on maintaining, improving or restoring health through medical intervention instead of the common practice of Indians visiting another country to seek medical treatment. This is possible by providing access to quality and cost-effective medical care, transparent pricing, seamless travel to MVT destinations, attainment of universal health cover and ensuring low waiting times for medical treatment.
The Indian national government has stressed the need for developing standards and accreditation for healthcare facilities and medical travel facilitators, and has called for enabling digitisation in the MVT segment.
The All India Institute of Ayush at Dhargalim in Pernem will be developed into a wellness hub for Ayurveda with an eye on promoting medical tourism. The institute will also function as a model centre for international and national collaboration for academic and research purposes. The All India Institute of Ayurveda at Goa will provide high-quality facilities for under- and post-graduates and post-doctoral skills in areas of education, research, and patient care. The institute has a balance of traditional medical practitioners and modern techniques.
Source : www.imtj.com