Why world is coming to India for medical treatment — and not just because it is cheaper
People coming from various countries to get treatment in India What is medical tourism? Government focus India ranks 10th on medical tourism index Why patients
People coming from various countries to get treatment in India What is medical tourism? Government focus India ranks 10th on medical tourism index Why patients are choosing India Beyond affordability Areas for improvement The next phase of growth A hip replacement in Vadodara. A dental procedure in Chennai. An IVF treatment in Delhi. Every year, hundreds of thousands of patients travel to India not for its monuments or beaches, but for its medical care.What was once driven largely by patients from neighbouring countries seeking affordable treatment has evolved into a broader medical travel ecosystem.Industry estimates cited by the Economic Survey 2025–26 and the government project India's medical tourism market to grow from around $8.7 billion in 2025 to $16.2 billion by 2030. Over the same period, the global Medical Value Travel market is projected to expand from $115.6 billion in 2022 to$286.1 billion by 2030. Additionally, India's broader hospital and healthcare delivery market is expected to grow at 10–12 per cent annually, reaching nearly Rs 12 trillion by FY30, with private hospital chains projected to expand capacity from around 70,000 beds to more than 108,000 by 2030.India ranks 10th among the world's 46 medical tourism destinations, according to the Medical Tourism Index 2020–21.Let’s dive deep into the medical world and see how much potential India offers to tourists.Medical tourism refers to patients travelling outside their home country to seek planned medical treatment. While lower treatment costs remain a major factor, patients also consider waiting times, access to specialists, quality of care, language support and post-treatment follow-up when choosing a destinationFor India, the demand spans a wide range of services, from cardiac surgery and joint replacements to cancer treatment, fertility care, organ transplants, dental treatment, cosmetic procedures and neurological interventions.Improvements in digital consultations and easier access to treatment information have also made it simpler for patients to compare hospitals and plan their care before travelling.The Union Budget 2026–27 has proposed the development of five Regional Medical Hubs in partnership with state governments and the private sector. These hubs will combine medical, educational and research facilities, along with AYUSH centres and dedicated Medical Value Tourism facilitation centres.To further facilitate such travel, India offers e-Medical Visa and e-Medical Attendant Visa facilities, which have been extended to nationals of 172 countries, along with newer e-AYUSH Visa categories for those seeking traditional Indian systems of medicine. The government is also upgrading its Heal in India (Medical Value Travel) portal into a single platform for hospital discovery, treatment planning, bookings, payments and post-operative care, while airport concierge services have been proposed to assist international patients on arrival.Notably, according to government data, India has 69,364 hospitals; including 43,486 private and 25,778 public facilities, along with around 1.2 million registered doctors and more than 1,299 NABH-accredited hospitals as of 2026. Several hospitals are also accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), with most located in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.For patients who make the journey, affordability is often only part of the story.India recorded 507,244 foreign arrivals for medical treatment in 2025, accounting for about 5.5 per cent of total foreign tourist arrivals that year; as compared to about 112,000 in 2009. Bangladesh was the largest source market with 3,25,127 arrivals, followed by Iraq (30,989), Uzbekistan (13,699), Somalia (11,506), Turkmenistan (10,231), Oman (9,738) and Kenya (9,357).People have given various reasons for choosing India.American traveller Charlie Evans, who sought treatment for seasonal flu and an ear complaint at a hospital in Rishikesh, said he was initially hesitant about seeking medical care in a foreign country.
The BriefWire