Media Release

Mangaluru, Jan 5: Bahrain Princess, Her Highness Shaikha Noora bint Khalifa Al Khalifa and higher officials from Oman and Bahrain ministries visited Indiana Hospital and Heart Institute as part of Medical Value Travel (Medical Tourism) on January 4.

Higher officials from different ministries like Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Labour were part of the team. A function was arranged at the hospital and there was discussion about the possibilities of associating with Indiana Hospital for healthcare needs of the citizens of Oman and Bahrain. After the discussion with the management team of Indiana Hospital including Dr Yusuf Kumble, managing director and chief interventional cardiologist, chairman Dr Ali Kumble and Abdul Latheef Uppala, vice chairman, the Princess confirmed that one official delegation from Bahrain Health Ministry will be sent to Indiana for final approval of empanelment of Indiana Hospital for treating government sponsored patients at Indiana Hospital.

Abdul Latheef Uppala, MD, Badra Samaa group of hospitals and one of the leading entrepreneurs in Oman and Bahrain was instrumental in bringing this delegation including Bahrain princess and officials from Oman to Indiana Hospital. Badra Samaa, Al Hilal hospital network will also become part of this medical tourism promotion of Indiana Hospital. Group CEO of Badra Sama Hospital, Dr Shafeeq was also part of the discussion.

“This will be one of the milestones of medical tourism history of Indiana and Mangaluru,” said Dr Yusuf Kumble after the event. Many of the metros in India like Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai are getting many patients from different parts of the world including Middle East and Africa. Mangaluru as a smart city needs to take on many initiatives from different strata of society, including district administration, media, hoteliers and others.

Dr Yusuf suggested to form a task force team from Mangaluru to do this.

"Indiana Hospital plans to offer treatment like angioplasty, bypass surgery, kidney transplant surgeries, joint replacement surgeries etc to medical tourism patients other than the routine secondary care services.

"Indiana Hospital is becoming one of the most advanced and trusted global health care services in India," said the Princess.