Quality Tag Opens Doors of Medical Travel in India

Quality Certified Indian Hospitals Encouraging Medical Travel

The B. M. Birla Heart Research Centre in Calcutta recently received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health Service Providers (NABH), a constituent of the Quality Council of India (QCI), making it the first accredited hospital in the country.  In the past, Birla Hospital has treated patients from neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. It also regularly treats patients from Mauritius, Hong Kong, and Kenya. The NABH quality accreditation, it is hoped, will now help the hospital to attract patients from the US and Europe and contribute towards promoting medical travel in India.

Promoting Health & Medical Packages in India

Aiming at enhancing India’s medical travel potential, the Birla Health Centre recently framed an accreditation policy for hospitals based on the quality of their services and infrastructure, the capacity to provide health tourism and short term care facilities, and the execution of medical packages in India.  The announcement of the policy was well received by private hospitals in Delhi and Hyderabad.  Birla Hospital has also approached three agencies in the UK for patient referrals. The hospital plans to promote medical packages in India by offering treatment procedures in conjunction with tourism packages such as the Golden Triangle Tour, Rajasthan Cultural Tour, Wildlife Tour, Kerala Backwater Tour, Taj Mahal & Tiger Park Tour, Goan Beach Tour, Palace on Wheels Tour, and Heritage Trip to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orrisa, and Rajasthan.

Plans for Health Tourism and Short Term Care Facilities in Calcutta

Calcutta has the potential to emerge as a major Indian medical tourism hub.  The Central and State governments of India are in the process of launching campaigns promoting health tourism with short term care facilities in hospitals and clinics in Calcutta.  Talks are underway with doctors from the Middle East, international airlines, and Western tourism companies for possible partnerships that will boost the citys medical tourism potential.

Source: "Quality Tag Opens Tourism Doors - Clinic Bags Competence Status," The Telegraph, November 3, 2006