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KARACHI, Jul 15 (APP): Speakers at a Medical Tourism Conference, highlighting the vast potential of medical Tourism in Pakistan on Tuesday, emphasized on concerted measures for promotion of medical tourism as a tool for economic development of the country.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) jointly organized the high-profile Medical Tourism Conference that was attended by top medical professionals, tourism industry CEOs, government officials and parliamentarians.
Senior Vice President FPCCI Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, in his keynote address, emphasized that Pakistani doctors are world-class and we can earn substantial foreign exchange for the country through medical tourism like Turkiye, Iran and China.
Globally the tourism industry contributes 10 percent to the World GDP, accounting for 330 million jobs and 28.3% of global services exports, he explained, adding that since the 1970s, tourism has been used as a tool for community development with emphasis on economic development and lessening poverty and many developing countries have promoted and supported tourism projects in their national development plans.
Saquib Magoon elaborated that medical tourism has also emerged as a major industry globally; valued at $144.5 billion in 2024; and, it is projected to reach US$ 700 billion by the year 2033. Leveraging competitive pricing, advanced healthcare facilities and government support, the key players such as Thailand, Iran, India, Türkiye, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia have established themselves as medical tourism hubs, he observed.
Managing Director Green Tourism Lt. Gen (r) Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat maintained that the global medical tourism market is driven by rising healthcare costs in developed countries, long wait times and the demand for specialized treatments. Many countries have successfully attracted international patients by offering advanced medical technologies, high quality care and a blend of medical and leisure tourism, he added.
Former President FPCCI, Zubair Tufail, highlighted that medical tourism has huge potential in Pakistan and from the platform of Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) several conferences in Turkiye, Iran and other countries have been organized on the subject. This conference is the first ever conference from the private sector in Pakistan and is live streaming in all OIC countries.
The conference was also addressed by President and CEO, AlBaraka Bank Pakistan Atif Hanif; Parliamentary Secretary Sindh Saima Agha; CEO AKUH, Dr. Farhat Abbas; Chairman Shifa International Hospitals, Dr. Habib-Ur-Rahman and other prominent healthcare industry leaders.