“The suggestion of implementing a visa on arrival is promising. We will pursue this… For several countries, we facilitate visa on arrival and e-visas… both of these could potentially be applied for the United States and many European nations… although not universally … for most nations where we have a reasonable level of confidence and detailed inquiries aren’t necessary,” Goyal remarked.
He encouraged the CII to develop this idea further and present it to the government.
“Naturally, we need to evaluate the necessary certifications and identify the countries eligible for this policy,” he added.
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Goyal stressed the importance of maintaining an inclusive and equitable healthcare model in India, asserting, “we can’t create a system where local citizens are denied quality healthcare while prioritizing international medical tourism.”
He proposed that hospitals might allow up to 10 percent of their patients to be foreign nationals, while allocating a share of the revenue to the Ayushman Bharat program or CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiatives that benefit marginalized communities.
This balanced approach, he mentioned, would promote both inclusivity and growth.
The minister also called on prominent healthcare institutions to enhance their training programs for nurses and caregivers to fulfill both domestic and international needs.
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Additionally, he showed a willingness to explore policies that would enable NRI doctors to support India’s healthcare sector, with direct discussions with professional organizations like the Indian Medical Association (IMA) as a prerequisite.
Meanwhile, under a new directive from the Trump administration, visa officers at embassies and consulates will be instructed to deny entry to applicants based on a range of new criteria, including age or potential reliance on public services.
Foreign nationals aiming to immigrate to the US could face visa denials if they have specific medical issues such as diabetes, heart disease, or obesity.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
