Medical tourism: Ayush hospitals to enter Kerala market; preparations kick off

Kalpetta: To offer ayurvedic treatment to tourists, government ayurvedic hospitals are planning to focus on dispensaries and panchakarma treatment centres in major tourist locations. Ayush hospitals are gearing up to target foreign and domestic tourists alike. In the first phase, the government has decided to include at least one centre in every district as a part of the medical value tourism project.

The medical value tourism project is being considered as a joint project of the health and tourism departments. At present, all the international tourists coming to the state through Ayush visas approach private Ayurvedic hospitals for treatment. The government expects that, if necessary, facilities be provided in government hospitals, then it would attract more tourists and increase revenue. 

Ayush Mission State program manager Dr P.R Saji said that in the first phase, dispensaries are being considered near major tourist destinations such as Guruvayur, Kalamandalam, Thusharagiri, etc. Efforts are also being made to offer OP panchakarma treatment to tourists applying for an Ayush visa.

Tourists can seek treatment at dispensaries while staying at nearby resorts. Taking into account the availability of resorts and the presence of tourists, the scheme will be started first in the major tourist destinations.

As part of the project in Wayanad, facility inspection was conducted at three dispensaries. Similarly, more dispensaries have been found in all the districts to start a medical tourism project.