LETTERS: Ministry of Health should make the most of India's medical experts

Editor, RE: “Do Rwandans still need to travel abroad for child birth?” (The New Times, January 19). It is the dream of Rwanda’s visionary leader, President Kagame, to make the country a market leader, be it in ICT, education or health care. As far as ICT is concerned, it is without a doubt that the flagship “Transform Africa” conferences have given Rwanda a head start. If we look at education, we can see tremendous appetite for international universities and institutions of higher learning wanting to set up base in the country. However, the Ministry of Education needs to be more pro-active and attuned to the needs of investors if the country is to achieve Vision 2020. Rwanda could well become a medical tourism hub, with the right partnerships and adequate training of doctors and nurses. Hospital partners in Mumbai are ever willing to support the country in its quest for excellence and to get both doctors and nurses trained here in India. A pilot project carried out with three nurses from Butaro Hospital was very satisfying and a great success. We would encourage the Ministry of Health to take advantage of offers made to train both doctors and nurses at India’s award-winning hospital partner – SevenHills Hospital – and others as well. If people from the medical fraternity undergo the necessary training being offered, and simultaneously if hospitals enter into suitable investment partnerships, there is no reason why Rwanda cannot become a market leader in this sector as well. Rwanda is blessed with natural beauty and with high standards of cleanliness, which are prerequisites for a medical tourism destination. Further, the climate is most conducive and people can breathe in pure air. With optimum use of resources and the political will, which is already there, we could look at medical and wellness tourism as an additional source of tourism revenues. Clarence Fernandes

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LETTERS: Ministry of Health should make the most of India's medical experts