Less Restrictive Indian Visa to Expand Medical Tourism In The Country

The government of India recently decided to bring about a substantial change in its visa granting policies. It initiated an e-visa facility for as many as 150 countries. The aim was to make visa procurement to India easy, in order to utilize the potential of the Medical Tourism Industry.

Acquiring a visa to India, for a long time, was a tiresome procedure for medical tourists. Patients applying for a visa to India had to wait for a number of weeks to gain the required certificates from hospitals located in India. In order for the visa to be granted, these medical certificates are necessary.

The applicant had to wait for several more weeks while the visa application was being processed. The wait was tediously long, especially for medical patients, whose purpose was not just to enjoy the culture, weather or cuisine provided by a new country, but to get treated.

Now, all the documents relating to the visa application can be submitted online. These include scanned copies of medical reports, tests, and prescription which can be sent to the embassy via the online portal. The biometric details can now be taken on arrival to the country. The procedure allows for the application to be filled from the comfort of one’s home. Physical appearance is necessary only during the embassy interaction. More than 8.5 lakh individuals have already availed this cost and time effective facility.

Such an initiative is expected to benefit Medical Tourism in the country. The government has set a target of 10% growth of the Medical Tourism Industry for the year 2016. The leaders have realized that the industry has immense potential which is yet to be tapped by India.

“This will also help India gain a competitive advantage over countries like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. The Medical Tourism industry is expected to raise a revenue of $8 Billion from India alone”, says Vaibhav Kataria, Marketing Analyst at a medical tourism company, MedHalt (http://www.medhalt.com). The firm connects international patients with one of its 50 JCI accredited hospitals, for a variety of medical treatments that range from rhinoplasty to hip replacement.

“Facilitators aim to make medical travel for international patients smooth, safe and cost effective. The easing of access to the Indian Visa makes that aim more approachable”, says Vaibhav. Other agents in the Medical Tourism industry, like hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics are also expecting to grow substantially, thanks to this government decision.

With hospital accreditation gaining momentum, more countries are becoming the hotspots for medical tourism. It is becoming increasingly competitive for nations as well as the various agents in the industry to stand out. Hence, the Government’s decision to make entry into India easier is expected to have permanent, and positive effects for Indian Medical Tourism and subsequently, the Indian Economy.

MedHalt provides a curated marketplace for medical tourism services bridging the gap between quality health care providers and patients around the globe.

MedHalt
39 Kushal House, Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019, Delhi, India

This release was published on openPR.