Speaking at an interaction on 'Healthcare for Tourists, a Lifeline for Tourism Industry' on Friday, they highlighted the need to develop a mobile application which can solve health-related issues that tourists face while traveling in Nepal. Subash Pyakurel, CEO of Health Concern, said hospitals need to follow international standards and understand that international patients have the right to get treatment immediately.
Health Concern, which had introduced an app named Hospitals Nepal almost one and half years ago, is now trying to incorporate a new segment 'Healthcare for Tourists' in the app. The app has already been downloaded more than 40,000 times so far, according to Pyakurel. It has features like database of hospitals including ticket price, phone numbers, and names of doctors. Similarly, one can also hail ambulance from the app itself.
Though Health Concern and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), two years ago, signed an agreement to develop an app to provide healthcare information to tourists, nothing has been done so far.
Sarad Pradhan, media consultant of NTB, said NTB could not do anything on the app because of the adverse situation that NTB was going through at that time. “We are very much positive about developing the app,” he said, adding, “We will definitely work together on this issue.”
Participants of the interaction urged concerned stakeholders to focus on development of the app so that tourists do not have to face any kind of health issue in Nepal. “If tourists get immediate healthcare when needed, it will disseminate positive message about Nepal in international tourism market. It can later be developed as a healthcare package, promoting Nepal as a destination for medical tourism,” said Pyakurel.
Sunil Sharma, officiating director of NTB, said there is a need to add 'healthcare for tourists' in curriculum of tourism colleges.
The interaction was organized jointly by NTB, Himalayan Rescue Association and Health Concern.
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