Report

H EALTH AND RELATED SERVICES 163
To formalise the movement of doctors across
SAARC countries, therefore, it may be desirable to have
mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) on recognition
of qualifications for doctors, dentists and nurses. Such
MRAs will have a positive impact in facilitating service
delivery through both Modes 1 and 4. At a minimum,
such MRAs should address the following aspects:
• Ensure that the relevant medical, dental and nursing
councils from each SAARC country recognise
medical and dental qualifications provided in other
SAARC countries. As a first step, such recognition
may be confined to degrees awarded only by
specific institutions in each of the countries, and
may subsequently be reviewed and expanded to a
larger list of institutions
• Recognition of qualifications needs to be accompanied
by streamlining the process of application
for registration with the relevant councils. An aspect
to be explored is whether recognition by a medical,
dental or nursing council in any SAARC member
can be automatically recognised by the relevant
council in another SAARC member. This would
mean, for instance, that a doctor qualified and registered
with the medical council of India need not go
to each SAARC member and complete the registration
formalities in such member; but will be automatically
recognised in such member by virtue of
his/her membership of the medical council of India.
• Such an MRA should also address standards of
service delivery.
Recommendation 3: Measures to Encourage Mode
2 in Health Services Delivery
As discussed in this chapter, there are no regulatory
constraints for mode 2 delivery of services. However,
factors such as lack of insurance portability limits access
for a service consumer. This needs to be addressed at
the level of each member state.
• Ensure portability of insurance coverage and
recognition of foreign medical degrees by insurance
companies: This aspect needs to be addressed at
the national level in each SAARC member. The
agreement between the SAARC members should
recognise this as a key factor for development of
Mode 2 supply of service. Each member should
also undertake to ensure that health insurance
service providers within their territories extend
the coverage for treatment in any SAARC
country.
• Provide expedited Medical Visas: ‘Medical visas’
as a separate category is recognised under the
Indian regulations pertaining to Immigration and
Visas. Expedited mechanisms for consideration and
grant of medical visas between all SAARC members
needs to be considered.