Delivering the validictory address at the International Conference and Exhibition on Health Tourism, organised by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation and the Confederation of Indian Industry here, he said all efforts would be made by the government to make the Indian health tourism industry globally competitive. Foremost in the agenda of the government was to bring down the cost of healthcare in the country, he said.
"Health tourism is gaining momentum in developing countries. It is the provision of cost effective private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialised treatment," he said.
According to a study by McKinsey commissioned by CII, health tourism industry in India could become a US$5billion business by 2015.
"With the finest and experienced specialists and technological edge along with latest equipment and state-of-the-art infrastructure, Indian healthcare is synonymous with safety, trust and excellence", he said.
The death rate for coronary bypass patients in India is 0.8 per cent and the infection rate is 0.3 per cent compared to the first world averages of 1.2 per cent and 1 per cent respectively. This statistics auger well for the health care industry in the country, he said.