Category Archives: Reports,Features, Statistics

A Halal hospital in Chennai

Posted on June 7, 2012 | Comments Off on A Halal hospital in Chennai

Halal hospital. Sound strange? Could be because the word Halal generally precedes food items or can go with hotels and restaurants, at least in our part of the world. But there has come up now a Halal hospital here. Global Health City, Chennai is said to be the first hospital in India to achieve Halal certification.

A world class tertiary multi super specialty hospital, Global Health City has received the Halal certification for its hospital services by Halal India – an independent Halal certification body registered with government of India and recognized by IHIA (International Halal Integrity Alliance, Malaysia), a partner of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).

The certificate of being Halal (permitted in Islam), hope owners of the hospital, will further help in boosting medical value travel from Muslim countries particularly from SAARC, Middle East, North Africa and South East Asian Region which constitutes around 75 percent share of patient traffic to the hospital.

Dr. K. Ravindranath, Chairman & MD, Global Hospitals Group, said “With about two billion Muslims worldwide and a major number of international health travellers coming to Global Health City from the Islamic nations, we see Halal Certification as a form of approval that boosts our patients’ trust and confidence in our range of hospital services. To earn the certification, Global Health City had to meet strict Islamic guidelines dealing with hygiene & dietary regulations of global standards.”

TCN contacted Halal India to know how they check that food items (for example meat) provided there are Halal, and what kind of items/services covered by the Halal certificate.

On whether the Halal certification to Global Health City hospital cover only food or other services as well, like medicines and other treatments, Mohammad Noman, General Manager (operations), Halal India said: Halal Friendly Medical Tourism services include Food, Prayer Hall, Qibla Direction mark, Payer mate, copies of Quran, for woman patients woman doctor’s appointments (based on request).

These services are provided at the Chennai hospital also. The hospital provides a prayer room and holds Friday prayers also. Besides, there are customized cuisine and Arabic TV channels in the patient rooms.
On medicines, he said: “Still this market is not matured in India unlike other countries like Malaysia, Singapore. We need to educate Muslims to seek Halal Certified medicines in future (Lot of capsules in India made with gluten (Pig or Beef).”

How do you check that meat, for example, served at the hospital is Halal? “We do the site audit and ensure that meat supplier MUST follow the Shariah Compliance based on Malaysian Standards. (Halal India got approval from Malaysian Govt to adopt Malaysian Standards). Also Butcher must be practicing Muslim and undergo Halal India’s one day training and obtain the name batch and certifications.”

Animals for food are kept in very inhuman condition at slaughterhouse or butchers’ home in most parts of India. Does the Halal hospital provide some good facility to the animals? Mr. Noman said we follow the Malaysian Standards and Practice in this regard.

Mohamed Jinna, CEO, Halal India stated “We have great heritage for service and hospitality in India which also signifies that we can take good care of patients. The state of art technologies available in medical care is just perfect for overseas patients. All we need to do is understand their culture and custom so that we accommodate them well and make them feel truly at home”

“This way we can respect their values and belief and at the same time cater to this niche market in India,” he further added.

Global Health City, Chennai is a 500-bed super specialty tertiary care facility, with a capacity to expand to 1000 beds. It renders advanced tertiary healthcare services with multi-super speciality and multi-organ transplant services.

Contacts:
S. Vasanth Kumar Philip
Sr. Manager – Public Relations
Global Hospitals & Health City
Ph: 9840064530

Ms. Sheetal Bajaj
Senior Business Development Manager
HALAL INDIA Direct: 9952041640
E-mail: sheetal@halalindia.co.in
Website: www.halalindia.org

source: http://www.TwoCircles.net / by Mumtaz Ahmed Falahi / June 01st, 2012

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Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

Govt mouthpiece bats for surrogacy tourism

Posted on May 21, 2012 | Comments Off on Govt mouthpiece bats for surrogacy tourism

Ahmedabad:

Branding surrogacy as “reproductive tourism”, the official mouthpiece of the Gujarat government has described the practice as a money-spinner for both the state and the surrogates. This comes even as issues surrounding commercial surrogacy continue to be debated.

“Today in this fast-paced technological world, remote solutions such as surrogacy have now become common realities. Some of us would deridingly call it a womb-on-rent, when a woman bears a child for someone else…,” says an article in the latest issue of The Gujarat.

The quarterly magazine, published by the state Commissionerate of Information, carries a cover story on Swami Vivekananda and has a “special feature” on reproductive tourism.

Written as a first person narrative of a personal visit to a town in south Gujarat, the article, titled Where the storks dare to fly…, states: “It is indeed remarkable that one small city in Gujarat has turned into reality, what might seem to be a distant dream for the rest of India. The state has set a precedent in embracing humanist ideas by facilitating reproductive tourism, which has proved immensely valuable.”

Talking about the surrogates — mostly women from poor socio-economic backgrounds, who get paid between Rs 2.5-Rs 4 lakh for bearing a child mostly for childless NRIs or foreigners — the author writes, “Apart from empowering the surrogates, it is bringing a lot of revenue for the state… furthering its development.”

The article focuses mostly on the surrogacy clinic of Dr Nayana Patel that thrives in Anand. The home of India’s milk revolution is described in the article as “unassuming town which has made an indelible mark on the world map for reproductive tourism”.

“Cynics may argue on the ethics of the process. But can cynics give a child to a childless couple and empower surrogates not only through financial independence, but also through a sense of working for a noble cause?” Dr Patel is quoted as saying in the article.

While the government has been promoting medical tourism for about a decade now, the tourism policy does not carry any mention about surrogacy or its promotion. “We cannot patronise any one discipline,” state Health and Family Welfare Minister Jaynarayan Vyas told The Indian Express when asked about the government’s official stand on surrogacy.

“It is one of the accepted medical fields that has its own accepted nuances and standard practices. There are several IVF clinics in Gujarat that are run by highly trained and capable professional doctors. However, like any other law it has its own hazards,” added the minister who felt that surrogacy in India had “deep roots” and could be traced to “Vedas” and “Puranas”.

However, last week’s incident wherein a 30-year-old surrogate mother died at an Ahmedabad hospital while carrying a kid for a American couple, has added a new dimension to the debate on surrogacy. The woman, Premila Vaghela, was eight-month pregnant and is survived by two children.

While the Vaghela family refused to speak to on the issue, Dr Patel from Anand said, “At present, the contracts signed between the surrogate mother and the couple (whose baby she is carrying) does not talk of any compensation in case of death of the surrogate mother. Those who agree to become surrogates are told well in advance about the complications involved in pregnancy.”

Dr Patel, who has so far overseen birth to 496 surrogate children at her clinic in Anand since 2004, added that though it was “difficult to find insurance companies are who are willing to insure pregnant women”, her clinic had “instances in the past where surrogate mothers were insured for a sum of Rs 2 lakh in case of death”.

source: http://www.ExpressIndia.com / Home> Story / by Avinash Nair / May 21st, 2012

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Posted in Fertility Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics, Wellness Tourism

Expansion of Healthy Destination Locations Boosts Traveling4Health And Retirement Brand and Market Share

Posted on May 17, 2012 | Comments Off on Expansion of Healthy Destination Locations Boosts Traveling4Health And Retirement Brand and Market Share

In response to surge of interest in international living destinations driven by economic climate, Traveling4Health and Retirement has expanded their coverage of destination locations resulting in increased branding and market share for Traveling4Health and Retirement and its advertisers. International living and medical travel destinations are a favorable option for more and more retirees, nine to fivers, and tourist aficionados; and the changes in economic climate have reinvigorated interests in affordable global travel.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) May 16, 2012

Traveling4Health&Retirement announces the expansion of their interactive destination locator map to include even more countries and cities popular with expats and that also provide high-quality medical and social infrastructure to support healthy living.

Traveling4Health&Retirement represents the changing perceptions of Baby Boomers and Travelers of all ages towards considering internatinal living as a viable option for a more fulfilling lifestyle.

An advocate for living a fully healthful lifestyle, Traveling4Health&Retirement spotlights the growing numbers of holistic and technological resources news markets and travelers access for informative, contextualized subject expert resource information. The informative exchange expands the traveler ecosystem: greater options for exceptional lifestyles.

The decision with travelers today is not how costly a vacation or destination trip may be but how can it be made affordable. The modern retiree, expatriate, or baby boomers-to-be embark today on a new excursion – finding alternative travel resolutions for an increasingly enriched lifestyle.

Traveling4Health&Retirement expands the global travel ecosystem with timely subject news and leading travel and medical tourism opportunities by preparative subject expert collaboration. Traveling4Health&Retirement embodies the pinnacle of travel and destination travel selections for the savvy and emotive novice.

Macarena Rose, Professionally Certified International Property Specialist from the National Association of Realtors, shares the importance of sourcing researched, preparative travel curatorship. “… People fail to make a new life overseas [because] frankly they left their good sense at home.” Rose, a subject personality expert in travel and host of “Don’t Leave Your Brain @ the Border” on Overseas Radio Network, presents dedicated travel information to persons interested in destination living in Belize.

Radio personality and travel subject expert Ilene Little, host of “ Know Before You Go” Overseas Radio Network program, encapsulates the many choices and considerations of travelers exploring destination locations internationally. “To share information, experience, inspiration and to help Americans better understand their health and wellness options, whether traveling for medical treatment or retiring overseas, our radio program has become an exciting tool for us in the field of travel.”

The changes in economic environments have paved the way for inventive and affordable travel. “Know Before You Go,” the Overseas Radio program and the Traveling4Health&Retirement online have opened up the platform for communication amongst travelers seeking healthy living environments for careers and retirement.

Ilene Little’s travel destination and medical news website “Travel4Health&Retirement” has increased American news and web markets readership about affordable and healthy international travel with recognition in the  San Francisco Chronicle and baby boomers and lifestyle blog from  AARP.

The definitive source in destination locations, international lifestyle, and global health, Traveling4Health&Retirement relates the newest developments, advancements, and achievements in vacationing, retirement and destination travel. Travelers, medical professionals, and people desiring to learn more about Traveling4Health&Retirement’s growing user community and health providers may visit Traveling4Health&Retirement at http://www.Traveling4Health.com .  Persons or care providers interested in becoming a member with Traveling4Health&Retirement’s online community should contact Ilene Little at +1.888.844.1005; Fax: +1.888.844.1005; Skype at Ilene.Little for additional information.

For the original version on PRWeb visit:http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/5/prweb9508374.htm

source: http://www.chron.com / Home> PRWeb / Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

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Posted in Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

Germany sees medical tourism growth from Mideast

Posted on May 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Germany sees medical tourism growth from Mideast

The number of Middle Eastern tourists flying to Germany for medical treatment and recuperating in luxury hotels is growing at more than six percent annually, the general manager of a Munich-based hotel has said.

Up to 80 percent of Middle Eastern guests staying at Rocco Forte’s three Germany hotels are receiving medical treatment, said Frank Heller of the Munich-based Charles Hotel.

“35 percent of my business is coming from the Middle East and this is during the entire year. A few years ago it was just the summer months and now it’s the whole year. Out of this 80 percent are coming for medical reasons,” he told Arabian Business.

“We have had parents coming to Munich for 20 years [for medical procedures] and now they are starting to send their children,” he added.

The medical tourism industry is growing at 20-30 percent annually and is expected to become a $100bn sector by the end of 2012. Residents from the UAE spend up to $2bn annually in healthcare travel.

Rocco Forte Hotels, owned by the British hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, has close ties with several renowned surgeons that specialise in diseases common in the Middle East such as diabetes, renal and coronary heart disease.

Villa Kennedy in Frankfurt works closely with Dr. Ulrich Mondorf, who specialises in treating diabetes, renal and coronary heart disease, while Berlin-based Hotel de Rome is home to a branch of the DRK Kliniken hospital.

The luxury operator has ramped up its services to cater to guests and recovering patients from the Middle East, said Heller. “We have a medical concierge who is working very closely with the hospitals. We have Arabic speaking employees, Arabic chefs and shisha.”

source: http://www.ArabianBusiness.com / Industries> Travel & Hospitality / by Claire Valdini / May 01st, 2012

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Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas, Uncategorized

Health Tourism debate continues as Spain says she is losing 1 billion € a year

Posted on April 20, 2012 | Comments Off on Health Tourism debate continues as Spain says she is losing 1 billion € a year

The Government is considering changes to the legislation.

The debate on so-called ‘Health Tourism’ is continuing in Spain, and now the Ministry for Health has said that it is costing Spain one billion € a year. The Ministry says this could have been avoided if the Socialist Government had correctly transposed a European directive on the mobility of the citizens between the different member states.

The Spanish Royal Decree 240/2007 which transposes the European directive 2004/38 misses out article 7, which establishes a clear guarantee to stop the citizens of one country abusing the health system of another country. It establishes that all the citizens in the union have the right to residency in another member state for more than three months if he or she is employed or self-employed in the new country or if ‘he or she or the members of the family, have sufficient resources to not become a cost for social assistance to the new member state during the period of residence, with health insurance which covers the risks of the adopted country’.

The Ministry for Health is now saying this missing article results in Spain not being able to invoice for the health services given to hundreds of thousands of citizens. In 2009 some 700,000 foreigners treatments cost 1 billion €, according to data from the Ministry taken from a Tribunal de Cuentas report. These are citizens from other countries of the EU who obtain a Spanish Health Card or who obtain a European card which passes the cost onto Spain.

Secretary General for Health, Pilar Farjas, told ABC newspaper ‘the inappropriate, and in some cases fraudulent use is a matter of imbalance’, and the Government is revising where the serious problems of sustainability are arising. She considered the high numbers of foreigners seeking treatment was testimony to the excellent quality of the health system.
She said the government would protect and guarantee that services for those who have a right to it.

Spokesman for Health in Congress, and ex Valencia Health Councillor, Manuel Cervera, in an interview on Radio 9, said the Government ‘is to study establishing previous requirements’ to limit the access of the foreigners to the health service, and ‘to better control the so-called health tourism’.
He explained that the Ministry for Health is studying introducing criteria such as ‘a minimum period of residence or tax contributions’ so being on the padron local census would no long be enough.

The British Embassy has responded to the Spanish comments on ‘health tourism’ –

Our coverage of that is here.

source: http://www.typicallyspanish.com / Home> Spain News> National / by h.b. / April 16th, 2012

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Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics, Uncategorized