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India has emerged as one of the leading destinations for medical tourism, attracting foreign patients due to its cost-effective treatments, advanced healthcare infrastructure, and traditional wellness systems. The surge in foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) for medical purposes highlights the sector’s growing role in India’s economy, diplomacy, and healthcare landscape.

Current Trends in Medical Tourism

• Between January–April 2025, India recorded 1,31,856 medical FTAs, accounting for 4.1% of total FTAs in this period.
• In 2024, medical FTAs stood at 6.44 lakh, a sharp increase from 1.82 lakh in 2020, indicating robust growth despite global pandemic disruptions.
• Top source countries (2024):
  • Bangladesh – 4.82 lakh arrivals (largest contributor).
  • Iraq – 32,008 arrivals.
  • Somalia – 11,717 arrivals.
  • Oman – 10,431 arrivals.
  • Uzbekistan – 8,921 arrivals.

This surge reflects both India’s healthcare competitiveness and rising global demand for affordable, high-quality treatment.

Why India attracts Medical Tourists

1. Affordability & Quality – Advanced medical procedures at a fraction of Western costs.
2. Specialised Expertise – Strong presence in cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology, organ transplants, and IVF.
3. Traditional Wellness – Ayurveda, Yoga, and naturopathy complement allopathic care, attracting wellness tourists.
4. Regulatory Support – Extension of e-Medical visa and attendant visa facilities to 171 countries, easing travel for patients.
5. Integrated Ecosystem – Hospitals, facilitators, hotels, airlines, and regulatory bodies work together under the ‘Heal in India’ initiative.

Government Initiatives

• National Efforts:
  • ‘Heal in India’ campaign (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare) promoting India as a global healthcare hub.
  • Encouraging public-private partnerships (PPP) to expand hospital capacity, improve service delivery, and enhance medical infrastructure.
  • Branding and showcasing India’s medical expertise at international platforms.
• Visa Facilitation:E-medical visa/e-medical attendant visa for 171 countries to smoothen entry of international patients.
• State-level Initiatives (Case Study: Gujarat):
  • Registration of wellness retreats on official tourism websites.
  • Participation in global health & wellness exhibitions, seminars, and conferences.
  • Familiarisation trips (FAM) for industry stakeholders to promote wellness centres.
  • Training paramedical staff to improve quality of care for foreign patients.
  • Use of social media and global outreach to project Gujarat’s health infrastructure and wellness potential.

Economic & Strategic Significance

• Foreign Exchange Earnings – Growing inflows from high-value medical travellers.
• Employment Generation – Creation of jobs in healthcare, tourism, and allied sectors.
• Soft Power & Health Diplomacy – India’s outreach in medical care strengthens its global image and fosters bilateral goodwill, especially with neighbouring and developing countries.
• Regional Leadership – With Bangladesh, Iraq, and African nations as major contributors, medical tourism strengthens India’s role as a regional healthcare hub.

Challenges

• Uneven distribution of healthcare infrastructure across states.
• Regulatory concerns regarding quality assurance in smaller hospitals and clinics.
• High dependence on a few source countries.
• Competition from emerging medical tourism destinations like Thailand, Singapore, and Turkey.

Way Forward

• Standardisation& Accreditation – Enforcing global quality standards across hospitals to build trust.
• Digital Integration – Expanding telemedicine, AI-based diagnostics, and digital health records for seamless cross-border care.
• Wellness Tourism Synergy – Combining allopathic treatments with Ayush-based wellness offerings.
• Infrastructure Development – Strengthening airports, medical hubs, and hospitality sectors near healthcare clusters.
• Diversification of Source Countries – Targeting Africa, Middle East, and Latin America for expansion.

Conclusion

India’s medical tourism sector is a sunrise industry, merging healthcare excellence with tourism potential. With over 1.3 lakh medical FTAs in early 2025 alone, the sector underscores India’s strength as a global healthcare destination. By addressing challenges and scaling up initiatives like ‘Heal in India’, India can transform medical tourism into a key pillar of economic growth, soft power, and international diplomacy.