GOVT CONSIDERS INDIA FOR PHALALA PATIENTS

MBABANE – EmaSwati could soon join the hordes of medical tourists who flock to India annually.

Medical tourism is the term given to the phenomena of people travelling to another country to seek medical treatment. The Government of Eswatini is planning on taking patients who need specialised care to the Asian country. Currently, patients are being referred to South Africa and Mozambique under the Phalala Fund.

The country recently established a relationship with the Government of India with cooperation in health and medicine. This was done through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was signed on April 9, during President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to the country.

According to The Times of India, the MoU covers cooperation in  areas of drugs and pharmaceutical products, medical consumable products, medical research, medical equipment, public health, communicable disease control and surveillance and health tourism.  It was further reported that a working group would be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of the MoU.

According to a source, the Ministry of Health is currently researching on the logistics that would be required to send patients to India.
However, it has also been gathered that a few patients have already been in the Asian country for treatment. The source said the ministry was researching on the costs that could be involved and the Indian health scene.

They are also looking at the costs of accommodating patients and how relatives could stay in touch with them while they receive treatment.
Director in the Ministry of Health Dr Vusi Magagula confirmed that government was considering sending patients to India.
He said the matter was not being discussed with the public for now as it was still in the preliminary stages.

Dr Magagula said some patients had already been to India on special dispensation, but said they did not go there through the Phalala Fund.
“The relationship with India has been established but we are still looking at standard operation procedures (SOPs),” he said. When he was asked if they would no longer be sending patients to SA and Mozambique, Dr Magagula said they were weighing their options, and deciding whether it could be cost effective. He said they were also negotiating with the Indian Government.

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