IMPHAL, November 21: In connection with the celebration of Manipur Sangai Festival, HE U Thar Aye, chief minister of Sagaing division and HE U Ye Mynt, chief minister of Mandalay along with other delegates today visited Shija Hospitals and Research Institute, Langol in Imphal. The team was accompanied by Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi along with Dy chief minister Gaikhangam, parliamentary secretary M Prithviraj, works minister Kh Ratankumar Singh, education minister M Okendro Singh, IFCD minister I Hemochandra Singh and other officials of the state who had received them at the Imphal international airport which started functioning today and carried a total of 165 Myanmarese to witness the Manipur Sangai festival.
From the visit of the officials with the hospital authority led by managing director of the hospital Dr Kh Palin, the Myanmar team learned that thousands of Myanmarese have undergone treatments at Shija Hospitals as it is relatively much cheaper as compared to Bangkok, Singapore or other metropolitan cities in India. The hospital believes in India’s Look East Policy which will enhance the socio-cultural relationship between Manipur and Myanmar through exchange of health care knowledge and facilities.
With many advanced techniques of treatment already available at Shija Hospitals, many more facilities like treatment for cardiac science, kidney and cornea transplantations, joint replacement, assisted human reproduction, anti-ageing medicine and wellness Park for medical tourism will be soon introduced in the near future, the hospital authority added.
The hospital has been invited by Myanmar for a second Mission Myanmar in December 2013, the first Mission Myanmar which already had taken place in May 2013. The hospitals will perform not only free cleft lip and palate surgeries but also 200 free cataract surgeries to which the Manipur Chief Minister has already consented.
The hospital authority presented before the Myanmar visitors some proposals which included continuation of free cleft and palate surgery under Smile Train Shija Cleft Project at multiple places of Myanmar as more than 10,000 populations of Myanmarese are estimated to be suffering with this deformity, free eye care (PHACO Cataract surgery) through Shija Eye Care Foundation, free key-hole surgeries for treatment of stone diseases of gall bladder and kidneys through Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India, setting up of a number of Shija Information Centres at various Myanmar towns, transportation and logistic support for patients to undergo treatment at Shija, short term training for doctors and nurses of Myanmar, reservation of seats for GNM and paramedical courses for students, providing dedicated accommodation for Myanmar patients and their relatives in the Shija campus at highly subsidized rate and setting up of a specialized hospital in a suitable place in Sagaing division on Public Private Partnership model.