Sunday, June 26 2005 11:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Drawing up marketing plans for private hospitals is hardly the Government's job, but Tourism Minister Renuka Choudhury is serious about promoting Indian healthcare centres abroad to attract the not-so-healthy tourist to the country.

Even as she is wooing the hale and hearty travellers with the "Incredible India" campaign, Choudhury is hoping that "Medical Tourism," a phrase coined by her ministry, would attract the worn out tourist to what has been known as the land of Ayurveda, but better known now for its modern hospitals.

Choudhury is confident that India can become an important destination for offering quality and affordable healthcare facilities if right initiatives were taken by the Government in cooperation with the private sector.

"Next week we are having a meeting with CII Task Force on Health. We will probably start marketing the health facilities available in the country as recommended by CII," Tourism Minister Renuka Choudhury told sources in New Delhi.

The Health Ministry is yet to give its views on a proposal to categorise and give accreditations to hospitals so that when the Tourism Ministry markets Indian hospitals, it would be able to say which hospitals are recognised by the Government or certified by CII, she said.

"The Health Ministry has to get back to us on categorising and accrediting hospitals because it involves medico-legal clauses and we are not technical experts to identify hospitals. We have asked the Health Ministry to forward its opinion. Otherwise we are going ahead with CII recommendations," she said.

Choudhury said she would consult Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss before going ahead with the proposal.