| An impressive array of speakers at the IMTD | | | | presenters at the IMTD 2009 from India were |
| Conference led by Dr Narottam Puri, President | | | | Fortis Healthcare, Max Hospitals, Sri Ramachandra |
| –Medical Strategy & Quality, Fortis Escorts | | | | Medical Centre, Chennai, Lakeshore Hospital and KIMS |
| Hospitals Group, Mark Fam from Deloitte Centre of | | | | from Kerala, Madras Joint Replacement Centre from |
| health Solutions, Canada , Ms. Ann Kaplan, | | | | Chennai, Soukya Wellness Centre, Bangalore, and |
| President & CEO, Medicard Finance, Dr | | | | Mann Medicity from Jalandar. |
| Vasanthi Srinivasan, Director, Health System Planning | | | | The Indian Ministry of Tourism which has launched a |
| & Research, Ontario Ministry of Health and Mr | | | | highly successful “Incredible India” campaign |
| Pradeep Thukral, Executive Director, Indian Medical | | | | to promote India, has approved participation in IMTD |
| Travel Association (IMTA) impressed the audience | | | | 2009 by JCI and NABH accredited Indian hospitals |
| and showcased the strengths of Indian healthcare | | | | and other eligible medical travel facilitators under its |
| in Canada. | | | | MDA – Market development Assistance Scheme. |
| Mrs Preeti Saran, Consulate General of India, Toronto | | | | Therefore the participating hospitals were able to |
| who inaugurated the event on 20th November, 2009 | | | | get financial support for a major part of the |
| also utilised the presence of Indian delegates to | | | | promotional expenses under the MDA scheme from |
| host a special business networking breakfast | | | | the Ministry of Tourism. |
| meeting a day before the event, which was | | | | 1. According to Mr Pradeep Thukral. Executive |
| attended by more than 100 Canadian business and | | | | Director, Indian Medical Travel Association, |
| healthcare leaders, who deliberated on | | | | “Canada as a market for promoting medical |
| ““Developing synergies between India and | | | | tourism to India holds great potential. It has socialised |
| Canada in the Healthcare sector” | | | | system of healthcare delivery that is under strain |
| The major highlight of the events were an | | | | and waiting lists are growing. A large surgical wait |
| experience sharing session by Canadian patients who | | | | list of almost 850,000 Canadians , pointed towards |
| were recently treated at Indian hospitals and a | | | | the need for this conference. Canadians tired of |
| Roundtable Meeting at the Ontario Provincial Health | | | | waiting are now open to visit and learn about their |
| Authority Office where leaders from the Canadian | | | | multitude of options beyond the realms of the |
| and Indian Healthcare industry discussed possibilities | | | | public health system. IMTD therefore attracted |
| of cooperation in areas as diverse as telemedicine | | | | massive local media interest in Canada with leading |
| and public health. The Ontario Health Authority also | | | | channels like CBC, Toronto Star and The Epoch |
| evinced interest in the excellent quality and cost of | | | | Times covering the event. “ |
| healthcare delivery by leading Indian hospitals and | | | | About Indian Medical Travel Association. |
| announced plans to send a senior delegation to visit | | | | A non profit body aimed at preparing India for facing |
| hospitals in India and look at how strengths of Indian | | | | the challenges of global competition in Medical |
| healthcare can be utilised for bringing down the wait | | | | Tourism space and actualise the tremendous |
| lists. | | | | opportunity for India to become a leading global |
| Indian Medical Travel Association, the Embassy of | | | | healthcare destination. IMTA's membership has a |
| India in Canada, Ministry of Tourism and Surgical | | | | diverse base of India's leading JCI, NABH accredited |
| Tourism, Canada joined hands to hold this first | | | | hospitals, Indian System of Medicine and Wellness |
| ever specialized trade show in Canada to promote | | | | service providers, travel industry, Insurance, |
| Medical Value Travel to India. Major exhibitors and | | | | Assistance and Medical Tourism facilitation companies. |