LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1718
TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017
MEDICAL VISA
1718. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has restricted medical visas to foreign patients;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) the details of the foreign patients who visited during the last five years for treatment in India; and
(d) the impact of this decision of the Government on the foreign patients and the reaction of the foreign countries in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) & (b) The Government has not put any restrictions on Medical visas for foreign patients. The numbers are constantly increasing, as can be seen in the table below. Indian Missions and Posts abroad process Medical visas on priority basis. Requests for
Medical visas for urgent medical cases are expeditiously processed and such visas are issued on the same day. However, in case of Pakistan, we ask for recommendation letter from Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, to process genuine and urgent
cases.
(c) Details of the Medical visas issued to foreign patients during the last five years are as follows:
S. No.
|
Year
|
Total number of Medical visas issued
|
1.
|
2012
|
38071
|
2.
|
2013
|
56008
|
3.
|
2014
|
66254
|
4.
|
2015
|
122121
|
5.
|
2016
|
177972
|
6.
|
2017 (till date)
|
105163
|
(d) The Government’s visa policy for medical visa has been appreciated by the applicants for medical visa and foreign governments.
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