Medical tourism targets US $ 2 billion business by 2012

As a major step forward to hard sell India as a destination for world-class medical treatment at immensely competitive costs, the Union minister of tourism and culture, Ambika Soni would launch a worldwide campaign by releasing a brochure and a promotional film on 'medical tourism' at a function here on Thursday (July 6, 2006). The union minister of health, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss is also expected to be present.

The brochure, brought out in cooperation with the Indian Health Care Foundation (IHCF) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), highlights the various treatments offered by the Indian hospitals in different specialities. It has been worked out keeping in view the overseas market. The medical tourism market in India is estimated to be worth over $300 million with about 150,000 foreign patients coming in every year. It is expected to grow into a $ billion business by 2012.