Ayurveda, western treatment a focus for medical tourism
Sri Lanka wants to tap into the growing global business of medical tourism with plans to attract travellers to its western and indigenous medical practices.
Sri Lanka is yet to develop this service offerings by obtaining the necessary international certifications, Export Development Board (EDB) Director General Jeevanie Siriwardena said at the commencement of the seminar on “Sri Lanka as a Global Health Tourism Destination” organised by the EDB and the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA) of the US.
MTQUA President Julie Munro, addressing the gathering of the health services industry in the country, said that medical tourism sector was growing by 50 per cent faster than the leisure sector.
She explained that medical travel involved obtaining medical diagnosis, treatment and care and she noted that even Ayurveda should be included in this segment.
On the other hand wellness tourism involves spiritual, emotional and physical well-being, it was noted.
Ms. Munro noted that since people want better health for themselves and for their children Asia is seeing a growing middle class and would travel overseas for improved health services.
Indian medical tourism is predicted to grow by 20 per cent per year to US$6 billion by 2018 with 40,000 health tourists. In 2014 India achieved $3 billion worth of business from this industry offering its services in Ayurveda, Sidha, Uanani, Yoga, Acupuncture and homeopathy giving the subcontinent an edge over countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and the UAE.
Travellers to these destinations to obtain medical services could be due to the fact that they wish to skip the procedures in place in countries like US and Canada, Ms. Munro explained.
In this respect, India is a step ahead since they are able to provide direct access to the surgeon and which is open to offering new procedures and techniques like hip and knee replacements not approved for in the US and the UK.
“Sri Lanka can jumpstart and not make the mistake others made,” she said.
EDB Export Services Division Export Promotion Officer Vajira Kularatne, speaking on how Sri Lanka could evolve as a tourism destination for medical tourism, explained that there are a variety of tourism activities that travellers could avail themselves to.
With already internationally accredited hospitals there are a number of others also wanting international recognition and with the right infrastructure in place Sri Lanka could be positioned as a “cost effective” destination for medical tourism, Ms. Kularatne said.
In addition, Sri Lanka would also look at exporting its services in indigenous medicine, she said.
However, the country is lacking in adequate promotion of medical tourism and has a limited number of resident doctors in hospitals, it was               pointed out.
Further, the inadequacy of trained staff, nurses and paramedical staff is also a concern, she explained adding that there is a lack of recognition from the international insurance companies as well in this regard.
MTQUA is a set of standards that hospitals need to comply with outside their clinical expertise to obtain recognition i.e. for all auxiliary services.
Ms. Munro explained that international patients visiting the country for health services should not be expected to use any free time to go clubbing or be part of any tours as would any other tourist.
MTQUA is currently working with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Sri Lanka currently receives international patients from the Maldives and Seychelles and mostly Germans, Austrian and British national for Ayurvedic treatment clearly indicating the country’s potential in this industry.
The basis for venturing into this industry has been part of a government initiative commenced about four years back as part of exporting the country’s services which is expected to bring in a revenue of $20 billion in the export of services and products by 2020.