Maharashtra to launch web portal for medical tourism
Maharashtra tourism department plans to launch a web portal to provide a single source of authentic information about medical care and to eliminate hawkers and middlemen.
“Maharashtra is trying to enhance its strength in the medical and wellness industry, which includes therapies like yoga, Ayurveda and meditation. The portal will include all the stakeholders in the industry like, doctors, practitioners, hospitals, spas, transport and travel agencies, service providers, bureaus providing bedside assistants for patients and even security services,” said a senior official from the state tourism department.
Before implementing the program, inputs from experts in all the related sectors will be invited. The stake holders of the medical and wellness industry will be requested to register in the portal. A nominal registration fees may be imposed. Information provided by the stakeholders will be verified by an authentic body like Nursing Council, IMA, Universities etc. before making it a part of the portal.
The project will also ensure co-ordination with various government agencies for facilities like creation of a green corridor.
“Current the medical tourism industry is not organized and lots of bogus medical practitioners are said to be working in the industry. Once the portal becomes a reality, it will provide authentic and accredited information of the stakeholders to the prospective buyers” said the official.
Development of Medical Tourism will help developing the area around the hospitals and medical centers, in the form of subsidiary and related service providers like labs, pharmacies, shops, restaurants etc. The state is also considering making the registration of medical tourist guides mandatory with the Maharasthra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).
“There will option for feedback from the beneficiaries of the services and those with lots of negative reviews will be removed from the portal” added the official.
