Mombasa City-Kenya to Sign MoU with 3 Hospitals in M’luru City for Medical Tourism
Mangaluru: Mombasa city on the coast of Kenya is all geared up to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three hospitals, including Mangalore Institute of Oncology, in the Port City of Mangaluru for health tourism (training and treatment). A ten-member high powered delegation from Mombasa, the second largest City of Kenya and the capital of Mombasa County(State) had come down to Mangaluru to finalize this deal. To brief about this MoU, during a press meet held at Circuit House-Mangaluru, Dr Khadija Sood Shikley-Chief Health Officer, Mombasa county-Kenya addressing the media persons said, ” We are happy to partner with Mangaluru in all aspects of health from training to our Health care professionals to advanced treatment to our citizens. We are happy to note that Mangaluru has state-of-the-art facilities. Even though Kenya has 47 counties, but only one county has advanced radiotherapy facilities, but Mangaluru has everything required in healthcare, be it oncology, cardiology, spinal surgery or other areas.”
” We have learned that Mangaluru is a ‘Medical Tourism Hub’ with an advanced medical technology. Very soon professionals from Mombasa County will come to Mangaluru to get trained especially in radio-therapy, robotic surgery, spinal surgery and various other advanced treatments. Hence today we have visited three hospitals, in upcoming days we will also sign MoU with these hospitals. We have a lot in common with Mangaluru-we are a busting port city ourselves on the East coast of Kenya with a population of about 10 lakh citizens and many tourist attractions in and around Mombasa. So we think that Mangaluru is an ideal partner for us with its international airport, world-class medical eco-system, tourist attractions and friendly people” added Dr Shikley.
State Minister UT Khader also speaking during the press meet said, “Thanks to the formation of the Health Tourism Task Force, which commenced six months back, it was able to attract Mombasa to Mangaluru, which is known for world-class health facilities and medical colleges for treatment of its citizens, and to train its doctors. There is provision for the people from Mombasa to come to the city to avail advanced treatment. Moreover, Mangaluru is the best destination for better treatment. The treatment cost in Mangaluru is less expensive comparatively than other cities in India, and this is a good initiative taken by the Mangalore Health Care Tourism Task Force. It will work as a channel in the process.”
Sanjay Bhat-the Facilitator of Mangalore Health Tourism Task Force said, ” Recognizing the potential of Mangaluru to become an international health tourism destination, we have constituted a Health tourism Task Force to boost local health infrastructure and economy. A team from the city recently visited Mombasa, and impressed the authorities there, due to which they are now planning to collaborate with hospitals in the coastal city. Mombasa-Mangaluru partnership is the first international collaboration of Mangaluru Hospitals in this area within six months of constituting the Task Force.”
“There will be a separate counter at the airport for medical immigrants. This was possible due to the strategic relationship of our task force member CIM Global with Mombasa stakeholders and enthusiasm of Mangaluru Hospitals to seize this opportunity. We have estimated that if health tourism takes place in a full-fledged manner, it can generate Rs 3,000 crore in revenue and 3,000 jobs. The other advantage in Mangaluru for patients is that the cost of living is less compared to metro cities, where one can save at least 20 percent of the cost normally incurred. Another advantage of Mangaluru is that it is well connected. Dubai is one of the major hubs connecting to Kenya, and that from Dubai it takes just a few hours to reach any part of India, including Mangaluru” added Bhat.
Ms Anita Niranjan-Managing director-CIM Global-Bengaluru also speaking said, ” CIM Global based in Bengaluru is a strategic health tourism company which has created a unique platform called IHTC to form and strengthen Health Tourism Partnerships and Skill building between countries, cities, hospitals and doctors from Health Tourism universe with India. We assessed the needs of Mombasa County and capabilities of Mangaluru Hospitals and thought it was a good match”
The Mombasa Kenya delegation comprised of Dr Khadija Sood Shikely, county chief officer for Health Services; Alphonso Haro, county chief officer for Public Service Management; llhan Abas, chief investment officer; Dr Fardosa Ahmed, chief executive officer, Premier Hospital, Mombasa; Dr Bajaber Abdalla, chief physician, Sub County Hospital; Kibwana Baya, member of Assembly, Mombasa, Dr Peter Sore, cardiothoracic surgeon’ Dr Iqbal, chief officer, Province Hospital; and Dr Madhu Patel, chief anaesthetist.
MP from Mombasa County Dr Kibuwana, Alphonso-Officer from Mombasa County, Ilihana Abbas, the Chief Investment Officer, Mombasa County, Suresh Rao Director of Mangalore Institute of Oncology and other local doctors were among others present during the press meet.
