Indian city hospitals in modernisation drive

24-Oct-2006

Private hospitals in Agra, India, are currently being modernised in a bid to attract more medical tourists.

The country is in the process of promoting itself as the ideal destination for visitors seeking hospital treatment abroad and Agra is placing itself at the forefront of the trend.

"Agra is definitely moving in the direction of a well developed medical tourism centre," commented Ravi Pachauri, director of a joint hospital venture.

"With the new international airport coming up soon and competent city doctors working abroad, this process will start soon enough," he told India eNews.

Mr Pachauri said that medical facilities had already "expanded immensely" in the region.

"Earlier we referred our patients to hospitals in Delhi, now with the latest gadgetry and facilities available locally, patients take advantage and save both money and time," he revealed.

India has a healthcare service which ranks among the best in the world, benefiting from highly-trained professionals and state-of-the art technology.

As a result, some 150,000 foreign visitors went to the country for healthcare last year, India eNews reports.