OPA seminar reveals immense potential of health tourism for Sri Lankan economy

HEALTH tourism has great potential to be a major, contributor to the Sri Lankan economy.

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This was highlighted at a seminar on "Promoting Health Tourism in Sri Lanka" which was organised by the National Issues Committee of the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka. The experts who addressed the audience at this event were, University of Colombo Faculty of Indigenous Medicine Dean Prof. Kamal Perera, Faculty of Medicine Professor of Surgery Prof. Ishan de Zoysa and Export Development Board Chairman/CEO Mangala Wijesinghe.

The seminar was commenced with introductory remarks made by OPA Vice President and National Issues Committee Chairman Bhanu Wijayaratne, which was followed by presentations made by the above-mentioned three speakers. In his presentation, Prof. Ishan De Zoysa noted that medical tourism has become very popular due to cost effectiveness, minimum waiting time, relative accessibility to procedures that are illegal in the home country, ease and affordability of international travel and the provision of high-quality treatments. He observed that during the next few decades, the Asia pacific region is anticipated to experience the most rapid growth in the industry in upcoming years and expected to govern the global market in the field. Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore, India, south Korea and Malaysia are responsible in attracting 1.3 million medical tourists per year from around the world.

With regard to international trends, he stated that 11 million Americans are poised to lose access to healthcare soon, leading to increased demand in this sector. The most popular surgical procedures were cosmetic surgery, followed by cardiac, orthopaedic, and transplant surgeries.