After IT, tourism and apparel, it’s now the turn of the Indian healthcare industry to market Brand India globally. Healthcare providers in India are now working in collaboration with the government to launch a comprehensive programme to promote medical tourism. These include putting in place an accreditation system for domestic hospitals and healthcare providers, drawing up a price band for superspeciality services offered by Indian hospitals, adoption of country-specific marketing strategies, opening of overseas facilitation centres and tie-ups with overseas insurance companies.

Till now, only a few big private healthcare providers such as Apollo, Fortis, Wockhardt and Max were creating their individual brand awareness in overseas markets through tie-ups with insurance companies and patient facilitation centres.

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) set up by the health ministry under the aegis of Quality Council of India, is currently busy finalising the guidelines for accreditation of hospitals and other healthcare service providers.

(The Economic Times)