A UAE-Kerala medical tourism corridor is in the works with ShopDoc, a Dubai-based digital healthcare company, set to unveil an ambitious plan to establish a luxury wellness and medical tourism ecosystem connecting Dubai with the Malabar-Mangalore region, bordering two south Indian states of Kerala and Karnataka.
The two-way medical tourism project, involving an investment of $50 million, will see ShopDoc partnering with select healthcare and wellness providers in Kerala and Dubai to offer a mix of traditional ayurveda and herbal-based treatment and rejuvenation programmes and advanced tertiary treatments involving modern medicine.
The investment for the project will be routed through a fund – the Malabar-Mangalore Medical Management Alliance Fund (4MFund), and the project will focus on upgrading existing healthcare facilities, besides introducing cutting-edge AI-driven products for seamless service integration.
“This project is envisioned to become a significant step toward making the Malabar-Mangalore region a global hub for premium medical tourism and wellness services and connecting it with the advanced healthcare facilities in Dubai,” Shihab Makaniyil, Founder and CEO of ShopDoc, told Arabian Business.
“Dubai is already the gateway for international wellness and healthcare services and by bridging it with the Malabar-Mangalore region, we aim to create a world-class ecosystem that offers seamless, luxurious, and highly personalised experiences for medical travellers,” he said.
Makaniyil said the project aims to redefine the future of medical tourism and wellness services in the two regions through strategic investments and partnerships.
The 4MFund also plans to launch a payment and rewards card in collaboration with a global card company, which will be specifically designed for cross-border wellness and medical tourism transactions.
The Malabar region, located between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, comprises Kozhikode (Calicut), Wayanad, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasargod districts of North Kerala.
Healthcare modernisation
Makaniyil said the $50 million investment will be deployed in phases, and will focus on modernising operational facilities of existing healthcare infrastructure to meet international standards.
“Technology integration for seamless treatment and service facilities between medical institutions and wellness centres in Kerala and Dubai through advanced AI products to enhance service coordination and optimise patient experiences will also be a major focus area for us,” he said.
Regarding launch of the payment card, the ShopDoc top executive said it will be done in collaboration with a global payment card leader, and the initiative will be for simplifying cross-border transactions for medical and wellness services, while offering exclusive rewards for users.
“Major partnerships with a global payment card company and a leading AI technology provider are expected to be signed soon,” Makaniyil said.
He, however, declined to reveal their names because of NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) with the companies.
Addressing air connectivity gaps
Makaniyil said while the medical and high-end wellness corridor project holds immense growth potentials due to the surge in demand for traditional, ayurveda and herbal-based treatments and rejuvenation programmes from the wealthy populace in the Middle East and around the world, especially from the West, there are some major challenges as well.
“The Malabar-Mangalore region is underserved in terms of premium business-class and first-class air connectivity, which is critical for attracting high-net-worth medical tourists. Addressing this gap will be crucial for the success of our mission,” he said.
Makaniyil said currently only flydubai, offering business class configuration, operates bi-weekly flights to the airport in Calicut from Dubai.
Aviation industry sources said many leading Middle East airlines are keen to operate flight services to Calicut international airport, while flydubai is seeking to increase their frequency to five days a week, citing that many top functionaries and businessmen are using their J class, to the major airport in north Kerala, home to a major chunk of non-resident Indian (NRI) population working in the Gulf region.
Airline seat capacities are bound by bilateral air services agreements between two countries and increases in capacities are allowed on a reciprocal basis.
The ShopDoc top executive said they also plan to take up the air connectivity issue, especially with business and first-class offerings, with the concerned government authorities at the central and state levels, citing the huge economic potentials of tourism and other projects in the region.
“The Malabar-Mangalore region, with its pristine backwaters, ayurvedic heritage, and renowned medical institutions, has the potential to rival other global wellness destinations. By leveraging Dubai’s position as a global medical tourism hub, ShopDoc aims to elevate the region into a premium destination for international wellness and healthcare seekers,” Makaniyil said.
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