JAIPUR: The 'Heal in Rajasthan' policy, drafted by the health department to promote medical value tourism (MVT) in the state, proposes to establish a dedicated body of healthcare and tourism experts to manage MVT operators, ensure quality and standards, and enhance experiences of patients.
The proposed body will collaborate with private hospitals and renowned doctors to create attractive MVT packages for the state, manage external relations, and support international tourists with medical visas and seamless registration upon arrival, said officials.
The policy aims to leverage the state's robust and expanding healthcare infrastructure, which currently includes over 8,000 govt and private hospitals, with 400 of them being multi-specialty and super-specialty facilities.
"The state govt is making significant efforts to boost healthcare infrastructure and position Rajasthan as a medical tourism destination. The health sector has received a substantial increase in budget allocation, from 7.4% to 8.2%, amounting to over Rs 27,000 crore," said an official.
"The proposed body will serve as the international business coordinator for govt hospitals, identified as MVT destinations, establish quality criteria and readiness standards aligned with best practices, and monitor patient experiences throughout their stay. It will also analyse feedback of patients to identify trends and areas for improvement," the official said.
The policy aims to establish hubs for medical tourism to cater to both domestic and international tourists for secondary and tertiary care procedures.
Ayush-based wellness tourism hubs to be created The policy aims to establish hubs for medical tourism to cater to both domestic and international tourists for secondary and tertiary care procedures. It will also create hubs for Ayush-based wellness tourism, combining traditional Indian therapies such as Ayurveda, yoga, neurotherapy, Unani, Siddha, and homeopathy with the state's rich cultural heritage.
"The policy will be an integral part of Rajasthan's tourism policy," said the official, adding that the govt will continue to network with the ministries of external affairs, civil aviation, commerce and industry, finance, tourism and Indian embassies abroad to further expand the ecosystem.