In its efforts to promote healthcare tourism initiatives, leading hospitals in Kerala have formed a consortium to promote the State as a medical value travel destination.

The society, which was formed following the Kerala Health Tourism Summit with 14 NABH hospitals from across the State, has elected its first set of office-bearers.

EM Najeeb, Executive Director, KIMS, has been elected president. Harish Pillai, CEO, Aster Medcity & Cluster Head (Aster DM Healthcare Hospitals, Kerala) is the secretary; and NM Mujeeb Rahman, Medical Superintendent, MES Medical College will be the treasurer.

The hospitals that were elected to form the executive committee through nominees include Baby Memorial Hospital (North Kerala), Rajagiri Hospital (Central Kerala) and Ananthapuri Hospital (South Kerala).

The objective of the society is to place Kerala on the global medical value travel map and also promote the State as the healthcare hub of India by 2020. Kerala at present attracts only 5-7 per cent of medical value travel, which is equivalent to $200 million annually.

A State with many advantages, Kerala has all the potential required to increase the inflow of medical value tourists by 10–15 per cent. The society believes that this can be achieved by 2020 with a strong, focused marketing strategy.

At present Kerala has 2 JCI accredited, 2 Australian accredited and 24 NABH-accredited hospitals. The society will also work towards the vision of NABH accreditation for all private and public hospitals by 2020, ensuring maximum inflow of medical value tourists to Kerala.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW