Indian Medical Travel Association (IMTA) to support IMTD 2009 – the first ever conference and exhibition in Canada
Friday, November 6th, 2009âIndia: Medical Tourism Destination 2009â, to be held in Toronto, from November 20th to 22nd 2009, at the prestigious Metro Toronto Convention Centre will showcase the best of Indian healthcare in Canada. The speakers at the IMTD Conference are leading lights from Indian Hospitals, Wellness services providers, Government and medical tourism facilitators.
The phenomenon now popularly known as Medical Tourism is often cited as the next big opportunity for India after the IT outsourcing to earn billions of dollars in forex earnings and create jobs in the healthcare sector. So far only a select group of Indian hospitals have been making valiant attempts to market their services in international arena. More than a million overseas patients already treated at top Indian corporate hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Wockhardt, Max, Manipal and many others have already proved to the world that the clinical quality, technology and cost proposition offered by India is unmatched. The capacity in super specialty segment Indian hospitals is expanding fast and there is no waiting period for local or overseas patients.
Indian Medical Travel Association, the Embassy of India in Canada, Ministry of Tourism and Surgical Tourism, Canada  have joined hands to hold this  first ever specialized trade show in Canada to promote Medical Value Travel to India.
Canada as a market for promoting medical tourism to India holds great potential. It has socialised system of healthcare delivery that is under strain and waiting lists are growing. The patients who do not wish to wait and are generally affluent have started to explore overseas treatment options.
A surgical wait list of large 850,000 Canadians , points towards the need for this conference. Canadians tired of waiting are encouraged to visit and learn about their multitude of options beyond the realms of 100% public health insurance.Â
The sponsors and exhibitors will get the opportunity to meet Canadians looking for medical and surgical services outside Canada, Provincial Health Authorities, Insurance companies, travel and tour operators, legal entities, medical information management companies, hospital administrators and medical tourism facilitators.
There is a large population of Indian origin in Canada dominated by North Indians, who are also likely to visit this trade show and therefore IMTD 2009, a unique opportunity for Indian Healthcare providers and medical tourism stakeholders to raise the level of awareness about what India has to offer.
As part of the Expo a series of workshops would held on 20th November, 2009 where a number of pioneers and leaders from the Indian Healthcare sector would speak and also participate in a round table with  Consulate General of India in Toronto, and senior officials from the Ministry of Health, Ontario.
About Indian Medical Travel Association. www.indianmedicaltravelassociation.com
A non profit body aimed at preparing India for facing the challenges of global competition in Medical Tourism space and actualise the tremendous opportunity for India to become a leading global healthcare destination. IMTA’s membership has a diverse base of India’s leading JCI, NABH accredited hospitals, Indian System of Medicine and Wellness service providers, travel industry, Insurance, Assistance and Medical Tourism facilitation companies.