The ministries of health and tourism in Andhra Pradesh are planning to make healthcare as part of tourism. The health tourism section in the Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, has initiated a plan aimed at exploiting the modern and traditional medical facilities in the state to attract medical tourists.

In order to promote Andhra Pradesh as a tourism and healthcare destination, a Health-Tourism Festival is being held at Lalitha Kala Thoranam from February 7 to 9.

The festival will be attended by officials from various states in the country and also tourism and health officials from the Gulf countries.

Health Minister Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao recently led a top-level delegation of medical specialists from the state to the Arab Health Show in Dubai and held discussions on bilateral agreements in the health sector. An agreement is likely to be signed by the middle of this month. This move has the blessings of the tourism authorities.

Earlier, a team comprising UAE health ministry officials had visited major hospitals in Hyderabad and were reportedly impressed with the healthcare facilities offered by both the private and government hospitals. Apollo Hospital has already entered into collaboration with a local business group to start a multi-speciality hospital in Dubai.

Hyderabad has a wide range of medical treatments on offer, including the latest in allopathic as well as a host of ayurvedic, homoeopathic, unani and naturopathic treatments. The Hyderabad fish medicine for asthma, Puttur bone setters, jaundice treatment through the use of herbs in Krishna district, the paralysis treatment as practised in Chirala will all be now part of the government's tourism package. As add on facilities for visitors coming to the state for medical attention, AP Tourism has a number of incentives to offer. They can relax, meditate and receive ayurvedic massages in selected places in serene surroundings.

Tourism Minister T Srinivas Yadav told the press that the corporate hospitals had given their consent for promotion of their hospitals. The government, in consultation with the private and public hospitals, will soon prepare packages for various treatment facilities, including open heart surgery, bone setting, asthma, removal of kidney stone and so on.