Travel News April 2007

Visa Related Developments

• Medical Tourism India
  Medical Visa and National Health policy to help medical tourists in India
• Medical Visa to India
  More on the Medical Visa

• Ministry gives medical tourism a boost
  ‘M visas’ to promote “Incredible India”
• MOT extends validity of Mvisa to 3 years
  Medical tourists can extend their stay in India!
• Medical Tourism Boosted by Long Wait Times
  Medical tourism India a ‘cure’ for ‘waiting’ Canadians

Medical Tourism India
In 2005, The Government of India launched a six month medical Visa, which allows an overseas patient to stay in India for a year to have his medical needs met. In addition to this the government has also introduced policy measures such as the National Health Policy, which gives recognition to the treatment of global patients. These patients have been allowed treatment in private hospitals, thereby enjoying the benefits of lower import duties, an increase in the rate of depreciation (from 25 per cent to 40 per cent) for life-saving medical equipment and several tax sops. Efforts have also been made to launch campaigns across foreign shores in order that India may be reflected as one of the most attractive medical tourism hotspots.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Source: Travel Mart India

Medical Visa to India
The Indian Government has issued a Medical Visa for travellers who visit India for medical purposes. The validity of this Visa is for a year, or for the period of the treatment, in which case the Visa will be extended by another year. The medical Visa, however, may be issued under certain conditions. A Medical Visa may also be granted to family members and attendants accompanying the patient. Extensions may be granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the recommendation of a State government, supported by appropriate medical documents.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Source: Indicure

Ministry gives medical tourism a boost
Speaking at the India Health Conclave 2007 at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Mumbai, Union Minister for Tourism Ambika Soni focused on the efforts made by the Ministry to promote ‘Incredible India’ through its Mvisas, specially designed for medical tourists. “We are offering several packages to promote such visitors. The idea is to encourage medical tourists to return after their first visit,” stated Soni.

With the tourism industry set to boom with the coming of the 2010 Asian Games and the 2014 Afro-Asian games, Soni said that it was just the right time to promote medical tourism. Members in the audience agreed that medical tourism could get the much required revenue to run super-speciality centres. According to Dr P V R Mohandas - director of MIOT Hospitals - in Chennai: “There needs to be a corridor specifically designed for medical tourism because this industry is going to grow. Also, immigration procedures should be simplified to make it convenient for patients visiting India.”
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Source: Mumbai Newsline

MOT extends validity of Mvisa to 3 years
The Mvisa or MXvisa which had been introduced by the Indian Government's Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has been further enhanced. While earlier, the Mvisa was only valid for no more than six months, the validity has now been extended to three years, provided the tourist can furnish a recommendation and sanction for the same from the doctor.
According to an MOT official, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has informed the embassies of 18 countries of this new development, and also of how all Mvisa procedures will be completed within 48 hours. This has been done with the intention of increasing the potential of medical tourism in India. However, not more than two attendants can be granted miscellaneous visas at a time.
Medical tourism has been prioritized and the MoT has dedicated a series of lectures and speeches regarding this sector at the ITB Berlin 2007. According to MoT, 1,50,000 medical tourists made visits to India in 2006. Dr. Rajkrishnan, CEO of Dr. Rajkrishnan's Dental Clinic, Kochi, and also group member of CII stated: "The decision to extend the tenure of Mvisa is a welcome move and it will help in our efforts to promote medical tourism in the country."
Monday, March 19, 2007
Source: Express TravelWorld

Medical Tourism Boosted by Long Wait Times
Travelling for medical purposes is becoming exceedingly popular with Canadians. It is now becoming one of the most affordable options for Canadians. For the it would take an average of one year for a Canadian to get a hip replacement, and this long hospital wait time gives Canadians reason to seek medical help overseas. Currently, the favorite medical travel destination is India as they can expect high quality treatment at high-tech private healthcare centers.

Says an associate professor of biomedical ethics at McGill University in Montreal, Leigh Turner, "It's almost like going to a top-end tourist resort," but on the flipside, it would be hard for them to determine the exact level of treatment patients receive. But since Canada hasn't been able to solve the wait time problem, the only solution to this problem would be to issue Visas and other needs for patients in need of immediate medical care. Surgical Tourism Canada arranges travel and visa requirements, insurance, hospital stay and post-hospital recuperation in rehabilitation facilities where patients can be checked on until they are fit enough to travel back to Canada.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Source: Embassy