Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
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Deputy General Manager — International, Treasury and Investment G.A. Jayashantha
The Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has recently announced an initiative aimed at improving the travel experience for Sri Lankans seeking medical treatment abroad. The introduction of the Multi-Currency Travel Card (MCTC) is designed to address the needs of those travelling to destinations like India, which has become a prominent hub for medical tourism due to its advanced yet cost-effective healthcare services.
Medical tourism, which traditionally involved patients from less-developed countries travelling to more developed nations for specialised treatments, has evolved. Today, individuals from developed countries also travel to emerging economies for more affordable medical care. India, in particular, has emerged as a key destination due to its extensive medical infrastructure and competitive pricing.
To support Sri Lankans making medical trips to India, BOC is offering a privilege card that provides several valuable benefits. The Multi-Currency Travel Card simplifies transactions by allowing users to manage multiple currencies on a single card, eliminating the need for handling various denominations. This card can hold up to $ 25,000 and supports five designated currencies, including US dollars, GBP, Japanese Yen, Euro, and Australian dollars.
Cardholders will benefit from a range of features designed to enhance their travel experience. They will receive a 5% discount on in-patient billing at partnered hospitals in India, and gain access to treatment and professional advice for selecting suitable medical care. Additionally, the card provides assistance with destination and hospital selection, and includes the support of a service agent to help plan the entire trip.
The Multi-Currency Travel Card also offers a comprehensive security package. Each card comes with a complimentary backup card for added peace of mind in case of loss or theft. Advanced security measures, including real-time transaction tracking, 3D security, and an EMV compliant chip, ensure the safety of transactions and protect against fraud. The card is also NFC-enabled, allowing contactless transactions and providing instant SMS and email confirmations for every purchase.
Moreover, the card is backed by Mastercard’s extensive network, ensuring global acceptance at over 4 million ATM machines and 40 million merchants worldwide. This facilitates a broad range of activities, from dining and shopping to online purchases.
The BOC’s new Multi-Currency Travel Card is tailored to meet the needs of high-end business travellers, professionals, and students studying abroad. Reloading options are available at BOC branches, with remote reloading provided exclusively to students overseas. This initiative aims to enhance the convenience and safety of managing finances for international travel.
