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India has enormous potential to lead the world in providing state-of-the-art medical facilities, as the government focuses on healthcare, particularly medical tourism. With the recent decision to relax visa requirements for foreign patients looking for reasonably priced medical care, the medical tourism industry is expected to expand by double digits this year. This would make India even more alluring if medical tourism grew outside major cities. As per credit rating agency Crisil, India attracted around 73 lakh medical tourists in 2024, up from 61 lakh in 2023. India's Medical Value Travel (MVT) industry is expanding rapidly. The industry is expected to grow from its 2020 valuation of $2.89 billion to $13.42 billion by 2026, mostly due to an increase in foreign patient arrivals seeking affordable, high-quality care.
Heal in India initiative - a step in right direction
Given the enormous potential of India's healthcare industry, medical tourism is a top growth driver in the Union Budget 2025-2026. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined several measures to enhance medical tourism and healthcare in India. The Finance Minister announced Heal in India, a new initiative promoting medical tourism involving the private sector. As per a report, about 73 lakh international patients visited India for medical treatment in 2024. As a result, the country's medical tourism industry is expected to reach a value of $7.69 billion. With the government's focus on medical tourism, I am confident that the business will continue to grow, with some forecasts predicting that it will reach $8.71 billion in 2025 and nearly double to $16.21 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.23%.
India is ranked 10th out of 46 countries in the Medical Tourism Index 2020-21 for providing medical procedures that are 60-80% less expensive than those in industrialized countries like the US. Patients travel to India for cutting-edge medical care from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Africa, and even developed nations. Recent government announcements to relax visa requirements are anticipated to eliminate significant obstacles for patients from other countries. The Indian healthcare ecosystem offers top-notch medical care and treatment in a variety of traditional medicinal systems, including yoga, ayurveda, and modern medicine. It offers comprehensive rehabilitation in all major medical specialities, including cardiology, orthopaedics, neuroscience, oncology, and promotive health-revitalization, functional health, and therapeutic well-being, as well as tertiary-quaternary care and treatment for serious chronic and non-communicable diseases.
By utilizing advanced medical technology, world-class medical knowledge, and traditional wellness practices like yoga and ayurveda, India hopes to draw in a greater number of foreign patients looking for high-quality and reasonably priced care.
Why India is popular among medical tourists?
India has become a popular destination for people from other countries seeking medical care for several reasons. It offers cost-effective treatment compared to many Western nations, along with highly skilled surgeons and hospitals equipped with the latest technology. The combination of affordable pricing, advanced therapies, and India's rich cultural and tourism appeal has boosted medical tourism. India has significantly shorter wait periods for medical operations than many wealthy nations, where patients may have to wait months. Appointments for patients in need of urgent procedures or treatments can frequently be made in a week or less. Patients can obtain immediate care because to the short turnaround time, which is crucial for critical ailments like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Indian hospitals prioritize patient care and make sure that every patient gets personalized treatment. Several hospitals provide concierge services like language translation and personal care coordinators, as well as help with paperwork and appointments for patients from other countries. India is one of the most patient-friendly nations in the world, with 85% of medical tourists rating the level of care and hospitality as outstanding, according to a Global Health Intelligence report. With a wide range of services, short waiting times, quality care at reasonable costs, and the chance to explore the country, India is an attractive choice for international patients.
Foreigners are also flocking to India to explore the IVF environment, where several cutting-edge fertility facilities provide comprehensive care to both domestic and international patients. India's medical facilities are unquestionably the best, but we also offer the personal touch that the Western world lacks. Foreigners are increasingly seeking affordable psychiatric and psychotherapy consultations in India. Mental health services here are more accessible and cost-effective compared to many other countries. Appointments are quicker, and issues like insurance, session limits, and paperwork are minimal. Culturally, it's also easier to connect with therapists who have both local and international exposure. With its combination of affordability, quality care, and appeal as a travel destination, India's medical tourism is expected to grow. This trend highlights India's strength in offering world-class healthcare at reasonable prices, attracting millions of patients globally.
Why medical tourism is important for India?
In addition to helping the economy, promoting medical tourism greatly expands a nation's healthcare industry.It generates economic benefits through foreign exchange, increasing revenue for government, hospitals, and medical institutions. These additional funds can be used to perform research, improve training programs, and further enhance healthcare infrastructures in order to provide better medical services. Medical tourism also helps modernize and improve healthcare facilities. International patients provide jobs in hospitals, hospitality, and transportation companies, directly benefiting the economy.
To draw in foreign patients, India is already making investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge medical technologies. In reality, we are at the forefront of telemedicine, AI-powered diagnostics, and robotic surgery in the field of eye care. India is offering both domestic and foreign patients the best eye care available. We are doing myopia operations using Oculus Myopia Master, a cutting-edge diagnostic gadget from Germany made to monitor and control children's myopia progression. These devices evaluate vital eye characteristics like axial length, keratometry, and refraction in a painless, contactless manner, enabling precise monitoring and individualized treatment regimens.
The Myopia Master, which was created in partnership with OCULUS GmbH in Germany and BHVI in Australia, enables medical professionals to provide more accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations. It sets a new standard in myopia treatment by assessing important eye health factors and using a special AI-based algorithm for data analysis. This ensures that every child receives individualized, efficient care.
Improved government policies to support healthcare innovation and expansion, better resource allocation for healthcare infrastructure, and more investments in public hospitals to match worldwide standards are all made possible by this kind of partnership.
Conclusion
We believe that India's medical tourism sector is on track to grow, driven by visa liberalization, increased investment in healthcare, and strategic public-private collaborations. We need to just focus on enhancing infrastructure, ensuring seamless patient experiences, and adopting cutting-edge medical technologies to further strengthen India's position as a global healthcare hub. This is possible by streamlining regulatory processes, expanding specialized medical facilities, and fostering treatment innovation. It will help attract more international patients while maintaining high standards of care and affordability.
(Author is eye surgeon, LASIK, retina specialist, and director at Surya Eye Hospital, Mumbai)
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