Medical Tourism in Kashmir has great potential, say doctors

The inaugural function of the 55th Annual Conference of Indian Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS) at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convocation Centre (SKICC) took place from May 14-17, 2009 in Srinagar. Doctors from Spain also attended the conference. At the conference leading doctors of Kashmir valley said that the state possesses huge potential for Medical Tourism because of the cheap cost and availability of experienced doctors. According to an ANI report by Bilal Butt, senior cardiologists of Kashmir revealed that cardiac surgery in Kashmir costs 80 per cent less than New Delhi, 95 per cent less than Europe and 98.5 per cent less than its cost in the United States.

The doctors explained that keeping the cost effectiveness in mind and the availability of modern expertise and resource, the state has a great potential to tap the opportunity and develop as a Medical Tourism hub. While speaking on the occasion NN Vohra, Governor, Jammu and Kashmir emphasised on the need for developing Medical Tourism as it will be highly beneficial monetarily for the state.