By Ashraf Padanna/Kochi
Aster DM Healthcare, the Dubai-based healthcare conglomerate which has presence in the Gulf region and parts of India, will open its $300mn Aster MedCity here later this month.
A 575-bed hospital is ready for opening in the first phase of the mega project expected to boost medical value travel to Kerala.
Officials said they planned to open a string of helpdesks in the Gulf countries for people seeking medical treatment here while enjoying the state’s beaches, backwaters and hill stations.
“Our focus is on promoting Kerala’s health tourism potential abroad. The aim is to raise the bar of excellence and deliver an iconic homegrown healthcare destination of international standards to the world,” said Dr Azad Moopen, its chairman. “Years of conceptualisation, planning, execution and now operations have taken us closer to the reality.”
The integrated medical township offers several super-specialty hospitals spread over 40 acres of land. The second phase will add 500 more beds besides a medical convention centre, a 4-star hotel and serviced apartments and staff accommodation - all on one campus. It will cater to “all segments of patients across diseases emergencies and disabilities.”
“Kerala has successfully made the leap from leisure tourism to medical tourism by generating the expertise with a sustainable model for medical education and developing the environment and infrastructure by offering world-class healthcare at an affordable price,” said Dr Harish Pillai, its chief executive officer.
