Dear Fredric Noronha Please find the article " Destination Goa For a Healthy You " for uploading on Goanet . It has been published on page 8 of today's i.e. (30th April) Herald . Thanking You Warm Regards Isidore Domnick Mendis Writer/Columnist Flat DG-2, Block-D Philomena Complex Molluca Merces Goa : 403005 Tel: 9764007366
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ......................................................................................................................................................... Destination Goa for a Healthy You Isidore Domnick Mendis 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. --- On Thu, 29/4/10, Goanet News <news.goa...@gmail.com> wrote: From: Goanet News <news.goa...@gmail.com> Subject: [Goanet-News] Goanet highlights... Tracking Goans down the Nile.. (by Selma Carvalho) To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" <goanet@lists.goanet.org> Date: Thursday, 29 April, 2010, 7:12 PM Goanet highlights by Selma Carvalho se...@goanet.org When the British explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton undertook his famous expedition into the interior of Africa to find the source of the Nile, he had with him two Goans servants. Selma Carvalho follows in their tracks in this two part weekly column. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192218.html http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192411.html A Gram Sabha is a representation of the people at the village level. At the moment, this tends to be a consultative representation but panchayat bodies in Goa are lobbying to give more power and leverage to gram sabhas. Freddy Fernandes says Goans can only celebrate when power is restored to Gram Sabhas in Goa. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192445.html Toronto Goans have embarked on an ambitious project to archive online as much as possible the history of Goans. Mervyn Lobo gives us an account of the progress made on this project. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192432.html You don't really care, do you? Asks activist Carmen Miranda in her bid to get 1,000 signatures on the mining petition. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192326.html Pandu Lampiao gives his own twist on the woes besieging Goa. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192368.html Lionel Messias looks into shady land deals in Goa. Land is the most effective currency for corruption in Goa at the moment. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192321.html Freddy Fernandes examines why even good politicians like Shashi Tharoor become suspect in India, in an essay titled Tweeting gone sour http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192319.html Lino Dourado gives us his Aitaracheo Katkutleo: Gharwali Sovai Baharwali Marog http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192406.html Valmiki Faleiro pays homage to brave Goans in the sky in a three part series. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192208.html http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192403.html Are Goans rent with political in-fighting. Goan organizations in Qatar seek to patch up their differences. Armstrong Vaz sends us a report. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192369.html When The Curtain Rises, is the name of a much awaited book on Goan tiatre, tracing its history and evolution as a Goan art form. This link gives details about the book. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192143.html Arwin Mesquita makes an impassioned speech to cut evil at its roots by ousting out corrupt politicians. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192305.html Venantius Pinto forwards an article on the life and times of poet Bakibab Borkar. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192375.html Dominic Fernandes that wonderful orator of all things Goan, writes about ballkaponn and matharponn (infancy and old age). http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192448.html JoeGoaUK continues on his photo documentation of Goa. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192409.html Enjoy some delicious photographs from the camera of Frederick Noronha, titled Fruits of Goa. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/192380.html And on a lighter note, enjoy some Konkani songs sent in by Jane Alphonso. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-April/191844.html Subscribe to Goanet at:http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
