Sunday, May 2, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Destination Goa For a Healthy You

Posted: 02 May 2010 06:24 AM PDT

Travelers have always preferred Goa as a famous destination   for fun and relaxation but of late another type of tourists is making a beeline to Goa. These international tourists are coming to get treated in the State's super specialty health centres.  Western Europeans and North Americans along with NRIs are coming in large numbers to get cured   for myriad health problems ranging from cataract to obesity.  The hi- tech and well equipped super specialty  hospitals and modern medical clinics with their comparatively low cost treatment and high calibre doctors is fast attracting hordes of foreigners who are coming to Goa  to get themselves treated .

Opines Dr Oscar Rebello, noted medical practitioner and former Convenor of Goa Bachao Abhiyan ( GBA)  "Goa can really do very well in certain non emergency areas like dental,  cosmetic, ophthalmologic, orthopedic, etc. For instance in many of the Western countries the waiting period for cataract is over a year. Goa can establish its important position on the world health tourism map." Goa getting connected directly with international airlines is also helping to get foreign tourists all 365 days of the year. Till some time back these special tourists came in the tourist season i.e. from  October  to April but with the commencement of foreign airlines like Air Arabia, Qatar Airways this segment of travelers are now coming round the year.

"Tourists from the West and NRIs from UK and USA  are coming to Goa mainly  due to two factors : 1) reasonable  cost of  surgery and 2) the availability of the best  qualified doctors . For example  the cost of cosmetic surgery is one fifth  of that in the UK and a tenth of that in US. The cost of the popular cosmetic surgeries at Apollo Victor is :  bariatric  ( weight loss)    Rs 1.5 lakh,  facelift  ( removal of wrinkles) Rs 61,500  , Liposuction ( fat removal) Rs 82,000   " opines Varun Albuquerque  of Alcon Victor Group which  owns Apollo Victor Hospital –Margao and Devaaya at Divar  .

Concurs Dr Hubert Gomes who has been running one of the most popular dental clinic Dr Hubert Gomes clinic at Margao since 1984. "My prices are ten times cheaper than that prevalent in the West .The cost for  dental  implant and Metal Free Ceramic Veneers / Crowns ranges between 14,000-25,000 and   Rs 6000 (per crown) respectively. " Every year Dr Gomes treats around 2500 international tourists and NRIs. Eye treatment is another area where the goose is laying golden eggs for health tourism . Foreign tourists from western countries are visiting Goan ophthalmologists for cataract surgery,  retina , refractive error, Glaucoma etc

Says Dr. Chandrakant Shetye who runs the popular Vision Care Super Speciality Eye Hospital-Mapusa, "Cost of Surgery or treatment compared to UK & USA is only  ½ in our hospital in Goa. The cost of Cataract surgery per eye ranges from Rs. 7000 to Rs. 49000 which depending  on the type of lens package the patient chooses. Similarly,Retinal Surgery ranges from Rs. 25000 - to Rs. 40000 and Retinal Laser treatment costs depends on the number of laser seatings. Our hospital get 10-15 foreign patients a year for surgical treatment and  1-2 foreign patients for OPD per day during tourist season."

Apart from allopathy, tourists are also frequenting Goa for non allopathic treatment. For instance Devaaya at Divar is the Ayurveda and Nature Cure Centre which offers extensive facilities for providing Ayurvedic Panchakarma & Wellness treatment. It combines Ayurvedic treatments with Yoga, Meditation, Music, Lifestyle correction, Diet Planning and medicines to achieve a healthy body, mind and spirit.  Tourists from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and NRIs from UK and USA  frequent Devaaya.

Health tourism has a great scope in Goa , and on January 26th this year  the foundation stone for the proposed Rs 120 crore EIH Goa Super Speciality Hospital at Bambolim was laid by Chief Minister  Digambar Kamat . This all points to the happening of good times for this new variety of tourism. Experts believe that Goa has a great potential for health tourism. " The climate and environment existing in Goa is very conducive  after post surgery especially  during convalescence period   . The average age of Western Europeans and North Americans visiting Goa is more than 55.   Similarly the State recieves more than 40 per cent of repeat tourists .   All this indicates to a great potentiality for health tourism in Goa " says Ralph de Souza president, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa- (TTAG).

But ground realities are different, on its own the State government  is not doing much to attract these new tourists. Rather it will not be wrong to say that the government is neglecting this new kind of tourism. Post surgery ,accommodation needs must be provided in the vicinity of the hospitals . The example of  Health villages in Malaysia, Thailand etc can be followed. These health villages offer accommodation, restaurants and even provide facilities of interpreters and translators .They come very handy in a foreign country  and people accompanying patients feel more relaxed and at ease . The infrastructure would have to include catering to the basic needs of the people accompanying the patient in terms of stay, food, hygiene and to an extent overcoming the language barrier.

Places like Divar , Guirim could  be  the best abode for recuperation. "The government should promote health villages by transferring land at subsidized rates and ensure continuous supply of power." opines Albuquerque. A large number of foreign travelers who come to Goa  are mostly recommended by physicians of their own countries. Regular fairs and shows should be held in the Western countries to popularize  this brand of tourism. There is also a dire need that quality aspect of health tourism is maintained because of late many  dubious dental clinics have mushroomed in the coastal belt of the state . Medical experts believe that along the lines of tourist police there needs to be a body, where patients can get redressal of  there grievances if  they have not received proper and correct  treatment . This would go a long way to prevent the tarnishing of the image of the State.

Confidence of International tourists can also be gained by not overcharging them. Be it local or foreigner both should be charged the same for the treatment availed. Dr Gomes' clinic displays the price list both on its website and its office.  "A forum to check the quality aspect in dentistry or any health aspect is vital to eradicate people with dubious credentials." feels Dr Gomes. In the same way, the garbage lying strewn all over the State is today an eyesore not only to locals but even tourists. "Garbage is the main challenge and it will affect the growth of this budding industry. The government is doing nothing to solve this menace because there is not a single waste processing plant. " rues D'Souza

Instead of inviting   semi clad  or scantly dressed or frugal or rogue tourists from Russia, the State government will do a great favor by taking up the initiative and harnessing the huge foreign exchange earning potential of this sunrise segment. Destination Goa should be the credo of marketing Goa to overseas patients especially in the Western Europe, North America and the Gulf.

by Isidore Domnick Mendis

Excise scam: CBI raids liquor units

Posted: 01 May 2010 07:25 PM PDT

After raids in Daman, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reportedly raided two liquor units in Goa, although the state excise department refutes it.

According to government sources, CBI officials raided two units at the Cuncolim and Canacona industrial estates respectively on Friday.

The alleged involvement of these units in a multicrore excise scam was raised by opposition leader Manohar Parrikar during the last state assembly session.

Sources said that both these units are owned by excise inspectors in benami names.

The CBI, last Wednesday, swooped down on distilleries in the union territory of Daman to carry out searches in connection with excise duty evasion worth over Rs 400 crore.

It was reported that the tentacles of the excise scam are spread over Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.

However, excise commissioner Sandeep Jacques said he was unaware of any CBI raid on liquor units in Goa.

“On reading media reports, I asked my officers to inquire about it. As of now, none of it has been comfirmed,” Jacques told TOI.

He said he has also asked his department for an inquiry on permits issued to import liquor from Daman into Goa.

“As per the preliminary report submitted to me, there has not been a single permit issued for the import of liquor from Daman to Goa since the last five years,” said Jacques.

“In any case, verification will continue and these matters need to be investigated. It could be true, or it could be false. I think all authorities concerned need to step in and investigate into this matter,” he added.

Incidentally, Parrikar had also alleged in the House that large consignments of liquor are being exported to North-Eastern states, but they are lost in transit along the route.

The money in this scam is possibly being used to fund terror outfits in border states, the opposition leader had alleged.

Courtesy:TOI
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