State tourism department to join hands with private hospitals

MTDC seeks to woo foreign patients coming to country for treatment

MTDC seeks to woo foreign patients coming to country for treatment

Talk about innovative ideas and the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will prove that they have no dearth.


Twin benefits: MTDC wants the foreign clients to recuperate at their
resorts in tourist places after treatment. Representation Pic

In a bid to promote tourism, MTDC has come up with a unique idea to cash in on foreigners who visit major cities to get their medical treatment done. Wanting these foreigners to shed more than just their medical bills, MTDC has selected hospitals in Pune and Mumbai -- the two cities that see maximum medical tourists, to recommend post-treatment therapy to guests. This will include combining their treatment with travel and post procedures, as the patients move to serene places around the state to recuperate and relax.

Kiran Kurundar, managing director of MTDC, said that plans to start a helpdesk for foreign patients at private hospitals were in the pipeline. "After their treatment, the patients can stay at MTDC resorts in a tourist location. It'll be not just good business for us, but the locals also who run small business in that area."

Asked how the plan would work, Kurundar said, "We plan to ask private hospitals for a tie-up wherein the former agency be either allowed a desk space at hospitals or data of all foreign patients be shared. Although these hospitals already have tie-ups with other private hotels, we want them to choose us for referrals," he added.

Private hospitals welcomed the idea of collaborating with the MTDC but said that they want it to upgrade its standards for their high-end clients.Bomi Bhote, CEO of Ruby Hall Clinic, said, "MTDC should definitely exploit this opportunity and promote medical tourism, but generally, their resorts don't offer the same level of five-star comfort and facilities that the private players provide. Our patients belong to a high income bracket, looking for relaxation post surgery and for that purpose they want good facilities. So before approaching us, MTDC should upgrade its services."

Dhananjay Kelkar, medical superintendent of Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital, said that government should improve the facilities provided to the locals first before attracting medical tourists. "Otherwise it will project a poor image of our country," he substantiated.