The Maharashtra State Council of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is putting together a comprehensive resource base of hospitals, diagnostic centres and individual medical consultants to give a boost to medical tourism in the state.

The initiative, which was being planned for more than a year, has already received a boost from the state government after it launched the Medical Tourism Council of Maharashtra (MTCM). Its objective is to attract people from other countries who are in search of world-class medical facilities at a reasonable cost.

At present, the new body that consists of members from the healthcare (both private and government), hospitality and travel industry would be centrally governed by FICCI.

Confirming the move, wing commander, Anil Gadkary, director, Maharashtra State Council, FICCI said that in one month since the launch of the MTCM, FICCI has been busy pushing its members for the formation of a registered council that would help to formulate a proper constitution for the new organization.

According to Gadkary, it would be six months before the bylaws can be enforced and a well-placed scheme developed before the whole project catches up pace and put to perspective.

According to Gadkary, once launched the project would manage to rope in more than Rs.2000 crore within ten years. Further, to make the venture a success, FICCI would be deputing its member offices spread around 80 countries around the world with the task of propagating benefits that the tourism industry in India would have to offer.

"We would be broadly classifying the packages into several classes so that patients from within the country and also abroad could avail of the quality treatment and several leisure activities from the venture. Currently, we are in the process of tapping several hospitals and associations including consultants and are gathering data and working out a feasibility plan for the project", said Gadkary.

According to Brigadier Joe Curian, CEO of SL Raheja Hospital and member of the Association of Hospitals, the central body that would be representing private hospitals from Maharashtra, said that, for the project to be a success, it would require detailed co-operation and networking among tour operators, central and state governments, airlines, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.

"The Association of Hospitals is making an attempt to network with various regional associations with common objective and interest not only in eastern India but also in the north, south and elsewhere. While regional issues specific to those hospitals would continue to be dealt with as before, common issues that may have to be taken up with Government, NGOs, Financial institutions, equipment manufacturers, etc will be taken up centrally," emphasized Brigadier Curian.

Assuring on the prospects of the project, Gadkary said that the project would first be launched in Mumbai to be followed by Pune and elsewhere in the State. Already queries from states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc are making the rounds at the Mumbai office of FICCI. Once established, efforts to take the project to the national level will be next on the cards of FICCI officials, said Gadkary.