What is medical tourism (and how is India positioned)?
Medical tourism describes travel across international borders for medical care. Cost savings, reduced waiting times, greater access to specialists or technologies not widely available at home, or a combination of health care and recovery in one trip (even sometimes with wellness or recuperative tourism) may motivate those journeys.
India’s strengths – an extensive private hospital network, doctors trained abroad and with international experience, growing accreditation of hospitals and doctors, affordable costs, and expansive specialty care access – have positioned it as one of the top global destinations for medical value travel. Various market research and government reports have identified India as one of the fastest-growing markets in medical tourism.
Why patients come to India: the pull factors
Cost, convenience, waiting time advantage — Many major procedures cost a small fraction of what they do in Western countries. For example, complex surgeries that could cost tens of thousands in the U.S. can often be done in India for a small fraction of this cost while maintaining high clinical standards. The cost advantage is likely the singular most important factor for international patients.
Clinical expertise and centres of excellence — India has many hospitals and specialty centres with international reputations in cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology and organ transplant. Top hospitals that are consistently ranked internationally have high-volume experience and are either public or private hospitals.
Shorter waiting time — Compared to many publicly funded systems (or private systems that have lengthy queues), many Indian hospitals are still able to provide prompt scheduling for diagnostic tests and surgery.
Communication proficiency in English — Since most clinicians and administrative staff in India communicate fluently in English, this eliminates many language barriers for many international patients.
Integrated service ecosystems — Medical travel facilitators, international patient departments in hospitals, hospitality partnerships or tie-ups with hotels, and rehabilitation/wellness services all serve to create a seamless patient experience and care journey.
Market size & momentum — numbers that matter
Industry associations estimated the Medical Value Travel (MVT) market in India at around USD 6 billion in 2022, with projections to grow to USD 13 billion by 2026. The growth predicted would likely align with increasing patient numbers, more development of wellness tourism overlap, as well as growing foreign direct interest in Indian health care.
Independent organizations, industry publications, and media reports have found strong year-over-year growth in patient arrivals in recent years. For instance, credit and industry notes made several media statements about a recovering and growing number of medical travellers, numbering in the tens of lakhs or millions, in the recent annual tallies after the pandemic.
Most-requested treatments and specialties
International patients are seeking care in India for:
- Cardiac (bypass, valve repairs/transplants, interventional cardiology)
- Oncology (surgery, chemo/radiation, targeted therapies)
- Orthopedic (joint replacement, spine surgery)
- Neurosurgery (tumor resection, spinal fusions)
- Organ transplantation (kidney, liver)
- Fertility treatment (IVF and related services)
- Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery
- Dental (implants, prosthetics)
- Wellness & rehabilitation (AYUSH, physiotherapy, recovery packages)
Hospitals that are high volume in these procedures attract more international patients, because experience at scale tends to lead to better outcomes and logistics.
Which Indian Destinations are Popular for Medical Tourism?
With premium medical facilities and trained medical professional India is a medical tourism destination, but not all cities and states of India are the best for their services. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are two states that are home to two of India's best cities for health tourism: Bangalore in Karnataka and Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
If you are considering a trip to India, below are the top cities with developed and advanced facilities, and skilled professionals:
Mumbai: Mumbai has several established hospitals, such as Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, with specialty services in Neurology, Cardiology, Oncology, etc.
Chennai: Called the "health capital of India," Chennai is the most famous city in India for medical tourism. Many world-class hospitals, for example Apollo Hospitals, and Fortis Malar Hospital, have specialized services in Cardiology, Oncology, Orthopedics, etc.
New Delhi: New Delhi is the second most preferred medical tourism destination in India. Many of the best hospitals in India are located in New Delhi. Max Super Specialty Hospital and Apollo Hospital are examples of hospitals that offer world-class medical treatments with specialties in Cardiology, Neurology, Orthopedics, etc.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad is a fast-rising popular tourist destination for medical tourism. The city has several top-notch hospitals, such as Apollo Hospitals and Yashoda Hospitals, which perform procedures for specific medical treatments like Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, etc.
Bangalore: Bangalore is a popular city for medical tourism, with many reputable hospitals, like Fortis Hospital, Columbia Asia, and Manipal Hospital, performing procedures for specific medical treatments like Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, etc.
These cities maintain valuable healthcare infrastructure, paired with skilled doctors, evolving them into desired destinations for patients seeking medical treatment. Often, highly desired medical therapies are less expensive than in other countries, while the healthy environment in these cities is also attractive for domestic or international patients.
Cost comparison – real-world perspective
The actual costs can vary significantly by procedure, facility, surgeon and city. But to give a feel for the magnitude of differences:
Cardiac bypass: India - often in low thousands (USD 5,000-8,000 reported by several sources); U.S. - typically many tens of thousands.
Knee/hip replacement: India - significantly lower than Western prices; often a fraction of the price (several thousand vs tens of thousands).
Cosmetic surgery/dentistry: India is usually 50-80% cheaper than comparable (U.S. / Europe) care.
These broad comparisons do not take into account differences in pre- and post-op care, travel and accommodation, or surgeon fees. Patients should request complete treatment packages and breakdowns from hospitals or facilitators.
Government policy & initiatives
The central and state governments of India have acknowledged Medical Value Travel as a recognised strategic sector. Initiatives involve:
National strategies and action plans for developing medical and wellness tourism as sectors by harmonising health, tourism and facilitation at the state level.
Promotional campaigns and programs (such as “Heal in India” type programs) to promote what India can do and the connection to accredited providers for international patients, as well as the simplification of visas and logistics. Recent government releases and policy notes have highlighted MVT as a key strategic priority for attracting inbound services revenue.
These various initiatives target increased identification, quality standards, and patient access; however, implementation and positive outcomes vary across states and hospitals.
Who comes to India? Patient profiles & source markets
The primary source markets are in South Asia (Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives), the Middle East (UAE, Iraq), Africa, and an increasing share of NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) and patients from Western countries wanting to try elective care or less expensive specialised treatment.
There are distinct patient motivations. In terms of regional attraction, proximity and cultural affinity plays an important role. While cost and advanced specialty care can entrap the long-haul and NRIs who often return for treatment and family support. Geopolitical, visa and bilateral relations are some issues that can influence flows from particular countries (and there have been reasons in the past few years).
The patient journey: what the process looks like
Initial inquiry – completed through hospital International desk, registered facilitator, or government portal.
Exchange of medical documentation – the diagnosis, images, and lab results are shared while waiting for the medical assessment.
Recommendation and cost estimate - once a recommendation has been made, hospitals move to provide package (consultation, admission, surgery, expected length of stay) and cost breakdown.
Visa and travel - medical visas and travel bookings can be arranged, and most hospitals will also help to prepare visa letters.
Admission and treatment - admission at the point of arrival, and the surgery/procedure followed by immediate postoperative care.
Recovery, follow-up - short-term recovery in India and follow-up procedure once at home (growing use of telemedicine).
International patient departments and facilitators often attempt to reduce friction by coordinating overall accommodation, local transportation, interpreters, and recuperative services.
Risks, challenges and essential caveats
Variation of quality -Whereas the highest-ranked hospitals are providing care of the finest calibre, there is a wide gap between them. Check the accreditation of hospitals (NABH, JCI), credentials of the surgeon, infections and patient outcome information where possible.
Continuity of care — When a patient goes home, post-op complications may manifest. Request specific follow-up strategies and telemedicine assistance; be aware of the local care pathways at home in case of an emergency.
Legal and regulatory recourse- Medical malpractice systems vary according to countries. The international patients must be aware of the legal remedies (and realistic constraints) in the event of poor outcomes.
Problems with communication - Despite the prevalence of the English language, ensure that consent, risks, and aftercare instructions are clearly communicated.
Visa and travel inconveniences - Political/policies - A change in political policies or policies of a particular source country that issues visas, have contingency plans. Recent reporting has demonstrated how bilateral problems can cause quick changes in the flow of patients.
Hidden expenses — Always ask for a detailed breakdown of the estimate (operation, implants, ICU, meds, tests, stay, translator, transport) to ensure there are no surprises.
Tech & innovation shaping the sector
Telemedicine, Artificial intelligence diagnostics, low-cost robotic surgery, and integrated health portals are improving OP assessment and post-op follow-up for all patients, especially international patients. Several recent government and consultancy reports have identified digital platforms and international collaborations as the next stage of growth (branding, scheduling, and continuity).
Future outlook
All forecasters and industry organizations expect India’s medical tourism market to undoubtedly continue to grow, based on increased global healthcare expenses, branding, accreditation, portability of insurance, and assistance from government. Challenges (government, quality, patient protection) that must still be considered. But as long as the policymakers and industries can manage some of these, India is well-placed to attract an even larger share of medical travel worldwide over the next few years.
To Sum it Up
India has become a popular destination for people from all over the world seeking to get medical attention. The reason? It is the same high-quality healthcare that is available at a much lower price. Hospitals provide you with up to date technologies, and the standard of treatment is equivalent to the west. No matter what you are having done, even major surgeries like organ transplants, India is willing to do it all.
Therefore, when you travel to India for medical assistance, you cannot only get the treatment you need but also experience our great culture. This is a two-in-one deal - quality healthcare while visiting a fantastic country. India is not just a destination for treatment; it is a country to experience beyond the hospital.