Incredible India

This is worse than a nanny state. Quack state is perhaps a better description. As this newspaper reported on Thursday, the government has planned a raft of regulations for medical tourist visas. And this is great news 8212; for all countries competing with India in the medical tourism sector. Right now, authoritative surveys put India among the top three destinations for medical tourism. But wait till the new visa regulations are in place. The government has a list of priority diseases 8212; if an American wants neuro-surgery he will get a quick visa but not if he wants, say, a nose job. Why is it the Indian state8217;s concern what kind of medical intervention hospital fee-paying foreigners want? Why should diplomatic posts abroad demand that medical tourists get preliminary medical advice in their country? That8217;s the tourist8217;s headache, not the Indian government8217;s.

Most absurd, the visa rules also want to tell a medical tourist not only how many companions can come with him or her but also that they must be blood relations. Evidently, there are senior administrators in the government who are deeply worried about the effect on this country of a medical tourist travelling with, say, a girlfriend or a boyfriend.

Making medical tourist visas more stringent seems to be the motive behind these Soviet-like restrictions. But why should they be made stringent? If the fear is that some clever operators might dupe some foreigners, a smartly produced general guide should suffice. After that, caveat emptor should apply. Does the Indian government tell Indians which hospital they should choose for what treatment? Then why should it be sermonising to foreigners, who too are consumers of Indian medical services? It is not clear whether the tourism ministry is a part of this extraordinary folly. If it is not, it must ferociously argue against the new rules. Otherwise 8216;Incredible India8217; will have a whole new meaning.