Coimbatore is emerging as a major healthcare hub among tier two cities in the nation and is set to grow phenomenally from what it is today. The annual growth rate would go up to a whopping Rs. 5,000 crore from Rs. 750 crore today, in a couple of years’ time. Brand Coimbatore as a healthcare hub should be promoted in a big way as the healthcare delivery system is known for quality, accessibility and affordability, said Dr. GSK Velu, Convener FICCI-TNSC Health Care Panel and Managing Director of Trinitron Group.

Addressing the one-day healthcare conference TANCARE (Tamil Nadu Health Care) organised by FICCI to promote Coimbatore as a favoured healthcare destination in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Velu said though the current quality of healthcare could match international standards, there is an inherent need to project Coimbatore as a healthcare destination, as the city is all set to emerge as one of the topmost healthcare hubs in the whole nation.

District collector T N Hariharan in his special address said, “Coimbatore through its evolution has emerged as a med city among tier two cities from earlier being known as a textile city. TANCARE can help in pooling the expert minds and resources to enhance and achieve healthcare growth in the city,” he said.

Dr. Nalla G Palaniswami, Chairman, Kovai Medical Centre Hospital, said that though the city boasts of efficient rail and road connectivity, air connectivity remains a moot point and regular air services to the Gulf, Singapore and Malaysia, if introduced, could help in medical tourism and the growth of the health sector.

Dr. Ramani, Managing Trustee of Sankara Eye Care Institutions, in his speech said that Coimbatore’s healthcare delivery system has not only the best of infrastructure, top notch professionals but it has ethical practices as its USP, as surgeries and other services are extended to patients at only 60 per cent of the cost in a metropolis like Chennai.

“We in Sankara have performed 1.5 million free eye surgeries under various schemes and over 5,000 people have benefited under the Tamil Nadu Government’s Health Insurance Scheme,” he said.

CEOs of corporate hospitals, HODs of various specialty medical centres, senior medical professionals, representatives from medical insurance companies and medical equipment manufactures took part in the conference.