Recent bilateral agreements have strengthened the very strong India-UAE bond. Bilateral trade rose to $85 billion in 2022-23, making the UAE India’s third-largest trading partner and the second-largest export destination.
Health care is a pivotal area for collaboration. The two-way traffic of medical tourists will help optimise the use of health care facilities and pool talent for better delivery. As a UAE company listed in India, Aster DM Healthcare has witnessed and facilitated this development very closely. With our strong presence across five states in India through 19 hospitals, 13 clinics, 226 pharmacies, 251 labs and patient experience centres, Aster is one of the top integrated health care providers in the country.
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In the flourishing relationship between India and the UAE, health care emerges as a pivotal area for collaboration and mutual growth. The strengthened diplomatic, economic and cultural bonds between the two nations create a positive environment for collaboration.
One of the most collaborations comes in health care—the Medical Value Travel (MVT). This will boost the prospects of medical tourism and leverage the respective strengths in health care infrastructure and expertise between the two nations.
In addition to delivering exceptional services with world-class technology, there is also a concerted effort at fostering innovation and research, providing medical education and training, and laying the groundwork for future health care advancements in the UAE.
A pressing need is to address the health care needs of the low-income NRI population from the UAE, particularly blue-collar workers returning to India after retirement. Their ineligibility for insurance schemes like Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) due to foreign employment history calls for urgent attention. Inclusion of low-income NRIs under Ayushman Bharat could provide lifelong coverage for them and their spouses.
Alisha Moopen is deputy managing director, Aster DM Healthcare.