US group wants medical tourists barred

MEDI CLAIM: The Health Ministry says there are strict parameters for Indian hospitals to qualify for medical tourism.

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New Delhi: After BPOs, its medical tourism that's in the eye of the storm.

The biggest US industrial workers' association, the United Steel Workers' Union (USW), now wants to stop Americans from visiting India and other low-cost destinations for medical treatment.

The Union has lodged a complaint with the Senate and the house committee but the Government is yet to respond to the complaint.

Experts say though the issue may not lead to legislation, it could result in laying down of guidelines.

Reservation to medical tourism is part of the larger issue of their resentment towards outsourcing.

While USW's complaint has cited issues like liability in case of medical negligence and quality standards in low-cost destinations, the real issue could be the potential job losses in the health sector of the developed countries.

With the rhetoric against outsourcing getting louder, it could spread to countries like UK and Canada.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has said there are strict parameters for Indian hospitals to qualify for medical tourism. India is among the top players in the sector.