IMPHAL: Taking note of the growing healthcare services in the state,CM N Biren Singh on Friday said his government has begun chalking out plans to transform the state into a healthcare and medical tourism hub of the region, covering northeast India and neighbouring Myanmar. Biren's assertion comes at a time when several patients from Myanmar come to the city to be treated at well-equipped hospitals at affordable prices."With Myanmar sitting across the border, Manipur's geographical advantage is enormous, and it is time the advantage was translated into economic growth, job creation and social prosperity," the chief minister said while addressing the inaugural session of the Northeast Healthcare Conference organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with the state government.The state government has already approached the Union external affairs ministry to introduce visa-on-arrival facility for foreign nationals, particularly citizens of Myanmar, so that it can enhance medical tourism in the state, Biren said at the conference, which was attended by hordes of CEOs and CMDs of leading healthcare providers of the country.Stating that air mobile healthcare facilities would be made available soon in the state, the CM stressed on air connectivity in the region. He urged the investors across the country to coordinate and exchange ideas with local entrepreneurs and doctors.The CM also said his government is planning to introduce a health insurance scheme in the state to provide financial assistance to those who cannot afford medical treatment.By 2025, India's population is projected to reach 1.4 billion, with about 45% constituted by urban adults, and to cater to this demographic change, the healthcare sector will have to be about $100 billion in size, contributing 8-10% of the GDP. Thus, the market opportunities in healthcare are immense, said the CM.State health minister L Jayanta Kumar Singh said the state government is not only proactive and industry-friendly, but is also committed to bringing big-ticket investments to the healthcare sector. "Shortage of doctors and paramedical staff is an issue. The way out can be Public Private Partnership in this sector," he said.Health commissioner of the state, Sumant Singh, said the new government, which is committed to the development of the state, seeks policy direction from industry."Six nursing colleges in districts are being planned already. Health indicators of Manipur are great. Visa relaxation, flow of goods and services, increase in air transport and international rail connectivity, unique geographical location will help in medical tourism," Singh said.R C Deka, chairman, CII North East Healthcare Committee and former director of AIIMS, Sanjay Prasad, chairman, CII Eastern Region Healthcare subcommittee, Rupak Barua, co-chairman, CII Eastern Region Healthcare subcommittee and Group CEO, AMRI Hospitals, K Sridhar, senior vice president-Medical, SIMS Hospital and Kh Palin, CMD, Shija Hospitals Ltd also spoke on the occasion.At the session, the CM unveiled a CII report titled 'Healthcare in Northeast India - Challenges and Opportunities'.

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