Discussion Meeting on Opportunities and Challenges of the “Medical Tourism”

A discussion meeting on the opportunities and challenges of the medical tourism sector was organized by the Chattogram Medical Travel Forum on Tuesday, August 19, at “The Pavilion” restaurant in the city’s GEC intersection. The event was attended by leading figures in Chattogram’s medical tourism sector, representatives from various travel agencies, hospital officials, and media personalities.

The meeting was presided over by Abdul Alim Raju, Social Affairs Secretary of the Bangladesh Medical Tourism Association (BMTA) and CEO of Global Healthcare. Distinguished guests included Shabbir Ahmed Tamim, International Affairs Secretary of BMTA and CEO of MediAider; Borhan Uddin, BMTA Chattogram Zone Coordinator and CEO of Cure Ways Trip; Prabir Barua, Guest Producer of Bangladesh Television; Dawood Arman, Press Secretary of BMTA and Director of Prime Mediacare; Ziaul Hoque, Deputy Manager of National Hospital; Niloy Basak, representative of BeFresh; and medical tourism entrepreneurs Saiful Azam Shakil, Ifthekhar, and Jubair Monzur Anan, among others.

Speakers discussed various challenges faced by patients seeking treatment both at home and abroad, as well as potential solutions to overcome them.

Prabir Barua, Guest Producer of Bangladesh Television, said: “Medical tourism is not just about going abroad for treatment; providing patients with proper information about the right hospital and doctors within the country, and ensuring a hassle-free treatment process, are also vital parts of medical tourism.”

Shabbir Ahmed Tamim, CEO of MediAider, said: “Many patients often fall into the hands of unprofessional individuals while seeking treatment advice, which leads to confusion and harm. Those of us who are institutionally engaged in this sector have a responsibility to provide patients with safe, accurate, and evidence-based guidance.”

Speakers emphasized the need to build a coordinated network for the development of the medical tourism sector and highlighted the importance of giving patients the right direction with utmost professionalism.