ACCI Delegation Attends the First ECO Confobition on Health Tourism

20 August 2014 - The First ECO Confobition (Conference+Exhibition) on Health Tourism was hosted by Islamic Republic of Iran on 18-20 August 2014 at Ramsar Hotel in Mazandaran I.R of Iran.

The Conference was attended by health and tourism officials, specialized health tour operators, medical specialists, business entrepreneurs and scholars in the field of health tourism from The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, republic of Kyrgyzstan and the Islamic republic of Iran.

H.E. Mr. Nasser Ahmad Noor, Ambassador of Afghanistan in I.R of Iran, Mr. Mohammad Hashim Wahaaj, Chairman of Health Committee of ACCI, Mohammad Zia Azizi, International Organization Manager at ACCI, Mr. Mesar Ahmad Sediq, Head of Cultural Relation Department of Ministry of Health, Mr. Noor Mohammad Hassan Khail, Head of Tourist Department of Ministry of Information and Culture attended the event on behalf of Afghanistan.

The Event was organized in a Conference and an Exhibition. The Conference, structured in 6 panels, addressed issues such as "development and diversification of health tourism products and services"; "Land Management and Health Tourism Zones", "Development and Training of Human Resources for Health Tourism"; "Economy of Health Tourism"; "Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Health Tourism"; and "Customer Relationship, Health Tourism Marketing". The Conference also concluded a Declaration agreed by the participants.

Mr. Wahaaj, Chairman of Health Committee of ACCI delivered a presentation on "Health Tourism in ECO region and challenges in Afghanistan " during the conference.  He said that we can divide ECO countries in two groups, those who has gotten good hospitals and medical facilities and those who needs medical treatment in other countries. Afghanistan is one of the countries who send thousands of patients to other countries. Why these patients not to be sent to ECO countries especially Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran should avail this opportunity and provide visa, travel and other facilities for Afghan patient.  We also have interest in sending our students in medical and nursing collages of Iran. He added that Afghanistan is one of the country which lakes healthcare facilities and infrastructure and send many patients out of the country for treatment during the year.

On the third day of the event, the participants attended the inauguration of the newly constructed "Shomal Specialized Hospital" in the City of Amol, Mazandaran Province. The Hospital is designed to offer highly specialized medical services to the domestic and international patients with its highly skilled professionals and modern equipments.

The president of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences said that in near future, 52 public and private hospitals will provide health care services; he also mentioned that these capacities would help to establish the heath-tourism. The Governor of Mazadaran province has requested the documentation of health- tourism development at the first international congress of health-tourism.

In a parallel of the conference, Health Tourism Exhibition was also held. At the exhibition, health tourism companies and hospitals also showcased their services to the participants of the Conference as well as the local and international visitors. Afghanistan had her own stall in the exhibition and ACCI, Afghan Health, Ministry of Culture provided their broachers, post cards, magazines etc. ACCI was fully represented both in the conference and exhibition.  The Confobition was inaugurated by H.E Mr. Masoud Soltanifar, Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO).

Source: http://www.acci.org.af/component/content/article/38-news/517-acci-delegation