Indian hospitals to interact with local institutions
Apart from boosting ties with Oman in the healthcare sector, the meeting seeks to improve the robust medical tourism from India to Oman
Times News Service
MUSCAT: As many as 48 Indian hospitals will be participating in a health sector-related businessto-business (B2B) meeting at the Indian embassy on Monday.
The event in which India is the largest foreign participant has been dubbed the Oman Health Exhibition and Conference 2018 and would continue from Monday to Wednesday.
Apart from furthering cooperation with Oman in the healthcare sector, the B2B meeting seeks to boost the already robust medical tourism from India to Oman.
During the meet, representatives from the 48 Indian hospitals would interact with medical institutions in Oman. Embassy officials hope that this would facilitate tieups between the Omani and Indian counterparts.
An official statement from the Indian embassy said: “India is the partner country for the Oman Health Expo and Indian delegation for the Oman Health Expo is led by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
“Exhibitors from India in different spheres – tele-medicine, pathology, diagnostic care, research, high-end medical tourism, education, e-health, medical and pharmaceutical equipment etc are showcasing their technical capabilities and relevant technologies in the healthcare sector and sharing success stories of their Research and Development (R&D) with various stakeholders in the Sultanate.”
“The B2B meeting is part of the embassy’s endeavour to promote co-operation in the health sector between India and Oman as there is huge potential for Indian and Omani companies to explore the formation of joint ventures and establish operations in Oman, as well to facilitate Omani nationals to visit India for medical tourism.
“There are several factors that make India the perfect destination for medical tourism: world class facilities at affordable costs, almost non-existent waiting time for surgeries, world class services and care system, and the availability of therapies such as ayurveda, naturopathy and yoga,” it added.
Spike in e-medical visas
The Indian embassy also disclosed that nearly 2.5 times more e-medical visas from Oman to India were issued in just eight months of 2018, as compared to all of 2017. Moreover, people have been continuing to apply for regular medical visas as well, they added.
An official embassy statement read: “Some 2,635 e-medical visas were issued in 2017 and 6,579 e-medical visas have been issued up to August 2018. In 2017, the embassy issued 24,575 medical visas, while 11,450 medical visas have been issued up to August 2018.”
“The medical visa for treatment in India has a very simplified process and can be applied with just an appointment letter from any Indian hospital. Medical visa fees have been reduced to OMR30.900 for a visa valid up to six months and OMR46.300 for a visa valid up to one year,” it added.
The embassy also provides emedical visas valid for 60 days and three visits to India for the equivalent of $80 or nearly OMR31, they added.