JEDDAH, 26 June — A major hospital group in the southern state of Kerala, promoted by non-resident Indians (NRIs), is planning to establish tie-ups with health insurance companies in the Gulf to provide “hassle-free” healthcare to Indian expatriates at reasonable rates.
Dr. Azad Moopen, chairman of Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) in Calicut, told Arab News that his organization would contact insurance companies in the Gulf to discuss the modalities of the service. The hospital will be officially opened in August.
Describing MIMS as the largest super specialty hospital in Kerala, Moopen hoped that it would attract a large number of Arabs in the Gulf. “We are ready to provide them the best possible service,” he added.
The hospital, which will have 300 beds in the first phase, offers an attractive healthcare package for NRIs and their families in association with the National Insurance Company in India. “We hope it would be of great use to NRIs, especially in the changing situation of medical treatment for expatriates in many Gulf countries.”
According to Moopen, the scheme has many unique features. It covers six members of the NRI family, namely husband, wife, two children and parents.
“One main feature of this scheme is that there is no premium involved. There is only a refundable deposit.”
Other benefits are an accident compensation of up to one million rupees, an inpatient treatment for up to 200,000 rupees for the family, free unlimited outpatient consultation at MIMS, and 12 health checkup packages costing 30,000 rupees in a period of three years. There are two packages (Gold and Silver) with a refundable security deposit of 100,000 and 50,000 rupees respectively.
About 50 percent of MIMS promoters are doctors. He said many eminent doctors from abroad and various Indian states have already joined the institute, which is planning to provide academic and research facilities.
