IMTA to Promote Medical Tourism to India at FICCI Namaskar Africa -14-16 January 2010 at Lagos, Nigeria

New Delhi, India, January 06, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Indian Medical Travel Association (IMTA) has partnered with FICCI - India’s leading business federation to promote Medical Value Travel to India from the African Continent. Namaskar Africa’ – an Indian business expedition to Africa is being organised by FICCI from 14-16 January 2010 at Lagos Nigeria with due support from Ministry of Commerce, Government of India and ECOWAS Commission.

Healthcare is prime focus area at Namskar Africa an Indo African business conclave. The programme also involves an India focus exhibition from 14-16 January 2010 and an ‘India-West Africa Business Forum’ on 14-15 January 2010. The Indian delegation will be lead by India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Anand Sharma.

Leading hospitals groups from India – Fortis Hospitals, Apollo Hospitals, Columbia Asia Hospitals and a large number of delegates from the healthcare sector would be presenting at a special Medical Symposium “Global Advances in Super specialty Clinical Care” during the India-West Africa Business Forum. Doctors from leading Indian Hospitals will give presentations on the latest advances in Cardiac care, Cancer, Neuro, Ortho, ENT and Wellness/ Alternative Medicine. The programme will be held in Hotel Eko, Lagos at 10:00 hrs on January 15, 2009 and this symposium is likely to be attended by a large number of local doctors as well as healthcare delegates from 15 African countries.

The volume of international patients coming to India for medical treatment from West Africa - particularly Nigeria is growing very fast and more than ten thousand visas were issued by Indian High Commission in Nigeria alone during 2009 to patients who wanted to travel to various Indian hospitals for medical treatment.

The Indian Ministry of Tourism which has launched a highly successful “Incredible India” campaign to promote India, has approved participation in IMTD 2009 by JCI and NABH accredited Indian hospitals and other eligible medical travel facilitators under its MDA – Market development Assistance Scheme. Therefore the participating hospitals were able to get financial support for a major part of the promotional expenses under the MDA scheme from the Ministry of Tourism.

According to Mr Pradeep Thukral. Executive Director, Indian Medical Travel Association, “Africa is a prime market for promoting medical value travel to India and the Namaskar Africa provides an excellent opportunity for our members to promote their services and also explore business opportunities for setting up Diagnostic and Clinical facilities in the African region. This event will provide an excellent networking opportunity between Indian African healthcare professionals and will help to further boost the flow of international patients referrals from Africa to Indian hospitals.”

About Indian Medical Travel Association. IMTA www.indianmedicaltravelassociation.com
A non profit forum aimed at preparing India for facing the challenges of global competition in Medical Tourism space and actualise the tremendous opportunity for India to become a leading global healthcare destination. IMTA's membership has a diverse base of India's leading JCI, NABH accredited hospitals, Indian System of Medicine and Wellness service providers, travel industry, Insurance, Assistance and Medical Tourism facilitation companies.

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