Cut in medical visa fee mulled by Home Ministry

Seeking to boost medical tourism and health sector, government is actively considering liberalisation of visa rules, including medical visa fee, to attract more foreigners to visit the country.

Besides, it was agreed that medical visa holders are no longer required to report to Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) if medical visa is for less than 180 days.

Health check up facility in tourist visa, longer duration with multiple entries for medical visa and reduction in medical visa fee are some of the measures, suggested by the Tourism Ministry are being considered by the Home Ministry, a senior Tourism Ministry official told PTI after meeting Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in New Delhi today. (Read: New medical township in Kerala beckons foreign health tourists)

The official said the Home Minister agreed to look into the issue of not treating a healthcare visit to a hospital while on being a tourist visa as a criminal offence.

'The Home Minister also agreed to consider granting four entries in a year under medical visa instead of the present three unless the visa holder comes to the adverse notice of the police,' said the official adding 'a proposal to merge medical visa category with the tourist visa category is also under consideration.'

It was also agreed to consider the request that the attendants of patients should also be given emergency entry and medical re-entry visas. (Read: 'Make medical visa process simpler' experts suggest)

Source: PTI

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