EDITORIAL: Here is an opportunity to boost medical tourism

Some time ago, we ran an editorial on how this country could be turned into a medical tourism hub. Our argument was that the private sector should not just sit back while the government alone finds solutions for medical issues. Now an opportunity has presented itself that the private sector should not let slip through their hands. One of the exhibitors at the ongoing Kigali International Trade fair is an Indian medical firm that is regarded as the pioneer in Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeries. This is the art of minimal invasive surgery where a small hole is drilled into the patient introducing small cameras and instruments for the operation to be carried out. The advantage of this kind of cutting edge technology is that the patient has a small wound that heals quickly with minimal bleeding. The Indian firm is ready to open a centre of excellence in Rwanda and is seeking partners. They are optimistic that when the centre opens, many African patients who go to India will opt for Rwanda as it will be cheaper and more accessible thereby shoring up tourist revenues. Our country has been advocating and propping up technology transfer and building the necessary infrastructure to accommodate it. We do not need to reinvent the wheel as far as medical technology is concerned, the way is already paved, it only needs takers. It is an opportunity that does not present itself everyday and our private sector can now enter into the medical tourism sector as the opportunity is knocking on their front door.

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EDITORIAL: Here is an opportunity to boost medical tourism