‘Heal In India and Heal By India’ to boost medical tourism on the anvil

The Union Health Ministry is all set to launch ‘Heal in India and Heal by India’ – a new portal which is likely to be announced by the Prime Minister (PM) on August 15 that aims to give impetus to medical tourism. Developed under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, the portal will have a repository of healthcare professionals, hospitals services to help overseas patients seeking medical help in India.

With the two top-of-the-line health initiatives, the government’s immediate focus is to push medical tourism in India via its upcoming one-stop tech-heavy portal Heal in India. Through another project, Heal by India, it seeks to encourage Indian healthcare workers to go abroad and serve patients, globally. Under Heal in India, via an online portal, foreigners or those seeking medical help will be able to locate the list of hospitals in the country available to provide their choice of medical treatments

It will provide details about the treatment package cost. They will also be able to apply for visas from the same platform. Hospitals and visa offices will get in touch with the patients once they receive the request through the online platform.

“As Covid-19 seems to be waning, the focus is to push medical tourism in India. We have the best hospitals, highly skilled doctors, and affordable treatment. Then what is holding us back from being the world’s best medical tourism destination,” a government official said.

Under Heal in India initiative, Indian healthcare workers will be provided an opportunity to move to foreign countries to pursue their professional goals.