Thumbay Hospital Dubai hosts medical tourism conference

News Network
November 22, 2014

Dubai, Nov 22: Currently ranked 16th most preferred destination for medical tourism United Arab Emirates has the potential to be in top five, according to an expert. Renee Marie Stephano, the President of Medical Tourism Association, USA, said there may be new demand trends for treatments and destinations in medical travel.

Speaking at the first international medical tourism conference organized by Thumbay Hospital, which is expected to be inaugurated in a month as a part of Thumbay Group and GMC Hospital, in Dubai on Friday, she said there are untapped niche target market opportunities within medical tourism. 

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The theme of the conference was Initiatives and Updates on International Medical Tourism in UAE'. The event was attended by over 150 delegates including medical tourism experts, doctors, facilitators and insurance agencies.

Thumbay Moideen, the Founder President of Thumbay Group, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. He presented special awards of honour and recognition to Renee Marie Stephano, Dr Uma Nambiar, Advisor to Ministry of Health Djibouti, Dr Ajmal Habeeb, Managing Director, Unity Hospital, India, Dr. Ibrahim Abu Gharbieh, MD Salamatek Healthcare Management UAE and Dr Benazir Ameer Ali, Director, International Medical and Health Tourism Department, Thumbay Hospital for their valuable contributions to medical tourism. Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Director, Operations Healthcare Division and Dr Manvir Singh Walia, Administrative Director Healthcare Division of Thumbay Group were present on the occasion.

Citing exhaustively from the findings of a survey conducted by MTA, Ms Renee said, nearly 80% of demand for medical travel is driven by cost savings, cosmetic surgery leads all other treatments, representing 38% of demand, about 92% of total spending on medical travel per patient is less than $30,000, medical tourists spend between $7,475 and $15,833 per medical travel trip, for six million patients, medical travel may contribute $45 - $95 billion to global GDP, Latin America and Asia are the two leading regions for medical travel, Mexico and India respectively have the highest demand for medical tourism and almost 76% of patients with a future interest in medical travel are American.

She recommended that collaboration with stakeholders to conduct annual global market research and to institute policies to expand various markets within medical tourism industry. Collaborate to develop healthcare hubs as a part of regional economic integration she concluded.

Medical tourism facilitators' act as the focal point of the process by linking overseas patients to medical providers and looking into their travel, transportation and tourism needs said Mr. Ibrahim Abu Gharbieh. Dr. Uma Nambiar spoke about the changing dynamics medical tourism and how do we adapt.

According to Dr Benazir Ameer Ali Medical Tourism is now perceived as one of the fastest growing segment in healthcare.The recent trend is for patients to travel from developed countries to third world countries for medical treatment because of cost consideration, waiting time, privacy/confidentiality, though the traditional pattern still continues. Technology will lead the way in future Medical Tourism. Along with that we can expect extremely personalized services, niche specialist centers, wider network of partnerships, increased number of accreditations, certifications and industry specific associations said Dr Benazir.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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News Network
December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs. 

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said. 

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