PANJIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday said that government is looking at promoting Goa as a “destination of medical tourism” to optimise the health care opportunities presented by foreigners visiting the coastal State.
Speaking at the lunch of first of its kind “Apheresis Technology Machine” at Manipal Hospital Goa, Rane informed about his meeting with Union Minister for Health Dr Harsh Vardhan, shortly, to push the proposal to promote medical tourism in the State through various hospitals.
He said that there are several domestic and foreign tourists, who use health facilities such as dental and other procedures to be done in Goa. “Why we need to just go to beach tourism…there is much more beyond that the tourists are looking at Goa for,” Rane informed.
“There are people from various States and countries, who are enquiring with us about our health care. We need to use this opportunity to promote medical tourism. We have the facility, just that it needs a push,” the minister said.
Rane said private and government hospitals will have to work unitedly to achieve the goal.
“Government alone cannot do it. We have to encourage private hospitals to work together to ensure that Goa becomes a destination of medical tourism,” he added.
Further giving push for government and private hospital collaboration, the minister said that there should be integration of private and government health care establishments since it is not possible for the State to work alone to improve medical facilities.
Meanwhile, Manipal Hospitals Goa in its effort to provide world-class healthcare services, unveiled the first of its kind “Apheresis Technology Machine” which will help the doctors in blood bank and transfusion medicine.
