The government is likely to liberalize rules for medical visas, including reduction in visa fee, increase in frequency of visits and exemption from police reporting for patients.

The move comes months after tourism minister K Chiranjeevi and home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde met to discuss the issue. Sources said in a recent meeting of officials from the two ministries, the home ministry agreed to address issues like reduction in visa fee and not treating a visit to a hospital while being on a tourist visa as a criminal offence.

Sources said the home ministry agreed to issue a circular that reporting to Foreigner Regional Registration Offices was not required if the medical visa was for less than 180 days. Visitors on a medical visa will also be granted four entries in a year instead of the present three unless the visa holder comes to the adverse notice of the police.

The home ministry will also consider the proposal that a patient's attendants should be given emergency entry and medical re-entry visas.

A committee is likely to be set up under home ministry to look into all issues relating to medical visas and will include representatives from tourism and health ministries as well as health industry associations as members.

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