With India emerging as a medical tourism hub, the Government is all set to launch a mega plan, ‘Heal In India and Heal by India’ to help the medical professionals avail of huge opportunities offered by the sector in domestic and abroad markets.

 “This is part of India's health vision for the next 25 years, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea, which has been framed after intense deliberations,” Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandivya said here on Saturday while delivering the presidential address at the 4th foundation day cum 21st convocation day of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

He explained that under the plan ‘Heal in India’, the services of the best doctors will be utilized for the treatment of foreigners who are coming in large numbers to the country. “We have the best doctors and an affordable and quality healthcare system. It will provide a huge health opportunity to health professionals under the 'Heal in India' plan. Similarly, under the 'Heal by India plan', we have a unique vision of how to provide an opportunity to our doctors at the global level where they are in huge demand,” said the Minister.

Sources in the Ministry said that the new initiative developed under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is likely to be announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15.

The sources also said that as part of the plan, the Ministry has drawn up a roadmap to connect overseas patients with healthcare facilities in the country. At least 44 countries have been identified based on the number of patients visiting India and are working on easing medical visa norms and other requirements for patients and their companions.

The government has also drawn up a plan to augment medical infrastructure in 17 cities that witness a steady inflow of overseas patients. The government has also implemented various initiatives to push India’s rise as a hub of medical tourism through the promotion of Ayurveda, yoga, and other Indian systems of medicine in the international market. The Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) has quoted data from the Ministry of Tourism, according to which, India witnessed 186,644 Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for medical purposes in 2020, accounting for 7% of the total FTAs. The primary reasons why people travel for medical purposes include the low cost of treatment abroad, cultural aspect of the healthcare provider, common language, and specific procedures not available in the domestic country, says the IBEF report.

Highlighting the Covid pandemic as an inflexion point for the country in all aspects, Mandaviya said, “When world questioned the ability of India in dealing with the pandemic, our professionals rose to the occasion. Stakeholders came together to showcase India’s tradition of “service before self" in action when it mattered the most. We followed the lockdown protocols and health advisories to the best of our abilities."

The Minister also said that the country has moved toward an accessible, affordable, and patient-friendly healthcare system. Our aim remains to ensure “Health for all" to even the remotest area of the country by strengthening primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare systems.

He also exhorted the medical students turned doctors to serve the country by working in the remote and inaccessible terrain in the country to help the needy.

During the event, a total of 172 medical students of batch 2018-2021 received their degrees and certificates followed by 24 students who received gold medals with certificates of merit and another 6 students who received certification of merit.

Later, talking to reporters, RML Hospital Dr. (Prof.) B L Sherwal, Director, ABVIMS, shared the expansion and redevelopment plan of the hospital aiming to ensure better healthcare facilities to the patients and faculty. These included a world-class facility spread over 3.6 acres of land that houses classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, research labs, computer labs, simulation labs, library, auditorium with 1000 seating capacity and attached annexe, multi-level car parking with 2000 capacity besides student’s hostel of 300 rooms at 0.89-acre plot.

Dr. VK Paul, member, NITI Aayog, Dr. Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor, GGSIP University, Dr. (Prof) Atul Goel, DGHS, Dr. (Prof.) Ashok Kumar, Dean, ABVIMS, along with the senior officials of the Ministry, faculty members, and parents were also present at the event.