India to issue special visa for medical tourists
A slew of government-led initiatives will boost the country ’ s traditional medicine
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a new specific visa for travellers who want to undergo traditional medicine treatments .
In an attempt to boost the sector , the government will also establish a mark for standardisation and authentication of quality for key traditional medicine approaches like Ayurveda , yoga , naturopathy , Unani , Siddha , and homeopathy ( AYUSH ).
“ We are working towards this by connecting farmers to better managed supply chains for medicinal plants that will empower them and provide employment opportunities . Additionally , the Ayush Mark , which will adorn Made in India products and will symbolize high quality products . An Ayush visa category will increase the ease of people to commute for Ayush related treatment ,” Modi said at the Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit , according to the Business Standard .
Another initiative will create a network of AYUSH Parks to boost research and manufacturing of traditional medicine products .
He said the sector grew from US $ 3 billion before 2014 to more than US $ 18 billion today and expressed confidence it would keep growing .
“ Traditional medicine helped Kerala increase its tourism . This ability is with the whole of the country . The ‘ Heal in India ’ can be a big trend of this decade . Wellness centres based on Ayurveda , Unani , and Siddha can be popular ,” the prime minister said .
In March , the government signed an agreement with the World Health Organization ( WHO ) to set up the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar , India , which will boost traditional medicine practices through science and technology . “ Ensuring all people have access to safe and effective treatment is an essential part of WHO ’ s mission , and this new center will help to harness the power of science to strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine ,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , WHO Director-General , said in a press release .
Thailand ’ s five-point plan to become a medical tourism hub
Health officials want to attract more international patients by boosting a variety of treatments
Agovernment panel has approved a plan to further boost the Southeast Asian nation ’ s credentials as a medical tourism hub by focusing on five health objectives .
The first will be the launch of an Andaman Wellness Corridor in four southern provinces that will offer exceptional medical services like transgender operations , complex disease treatment , and hot springs , said Dr Sophon Mekthon , an assistant to the public health minister in Thailand , according to Bangkok Post .
The government will also extend support to the wellness industry to facilitate the use of cannabis for recreational purposes as well as traditional herbs .
In addition , the panel aims to pursue a business model called Cannabis Digital Asset to give people the chance to reach cannabis businesses through virtual reality .
The fourth objective is to turn Thailand into a World Class Super Centre , with the panel drawing up a list of candidate hospitals and establishing a new facility called the Udonthani Cancer Hospital .
Finally , the country aims to host a variety of medical schools that follow international medical curriculums while also offering courses in traditional and alternative medicines .
36 MAY 2022 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com