By IANS,
Chandigarh : Health tourism will now be given the status of industry in Haryana and projects with over Rs.100 crore (Rs.1 billion) investment will qualify for the applicable incentives, the government announced Tuesday.
“The Haryana government has decided to promote health tourism. Such projects involving an investment of Rs.100 crore (Rs.1 billion) and above would be given the status of industry for the purpose of incentives,” a state government spokesman said here.
He said the newly-formulated Industrial and Investment Policy-2011 sought private sector investment in heath and healthcare sector to facilitate establishment of quality healthcare institutions within the framework of set standards and norms.
“Giving industry status to health tourism projects is under that policy,” he added.
“Haryana holds good potential for development as centre of medical tourism,” the spokesman said.
“It also has potential for investment in the health sector through establishment of hospitals offering primary, secondary and tertiary level healthcare facilities and allied services like pharmacies, diagnostics, pathological labs, training and skill development for para-medical services,” he added.
He said the state government would work towards establishment of facilities like common bio-medical waste treatment facilities for proper disposal of biomedical waste generated by hospitals, laboratories and research and development centres, effluent treatment plants for treatment of liquid effluent generated from government hospitals and liquid oxygen plants in hospitals with bed-strength of more than 100.
The Haryana government has asked agencies like Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) and the urban development agencies to earmark separate clusters at appropriate locations for medical care service providers.