India is no longer just a destination for affordable treatment; it is fast emerging as a global medical tourism hub.
While 112,000 foreign patients came to India for treatment in 2009, the number rose to 507,000 in 2025, a nearly 4.5-fold increase over 16 years.
A large number of patients came from Bangladesh, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Oman and Kenya.
India’s medical tourism market was worth ₹84,000 crore in 2025 and is projected to grow to ₹1.56 lakh crore by 2030.
Quick access to specialist doctors driving growth
The growth is not driven by lower costs alone. A major reason is the quick availability of specialist doctors in India.
Fast diagnostic reports and transparent, pre-determined treatment costs are also attracting foreign patients.
A treatment that costs ₹15,000 in the US can often be done in India for ₹1,000–2,000.
Similarly, routine dental treatment that costs ₹16,000 more in the Netherlands can be done in Lucknow for around ₹3,000.
India has over 69,000 hospitals
India also has a strong healthcare infrastructure to support medical tourism. The country has 69,364 hospitals, including 43,486 private hospitals (about 66%) and 25,778 government hospitals.
It has 1.2 million registered doctors, while 1,299 hospitals are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH).
Experts say this extensive private healthcare network gives India the capacity to treat a large number of international patients.
India now offers e-Medical Visa to citizens of 172 countries
British citizen Anderson had to wait more than a year for a neurology consultation in his home country. After arriving in India, he got an appointment the very next day.
His MRI and blood tests were conducted immediately, and the reports were available within an hour. The speed of treatment is becoming a major attraction for international patients.
India is also drawing patients who previously travelled to Türkiye and Thailand for treatment. The key reasons are access to specialist doctors, internationally accredited hospitals and significantly lower treatment costs.
Through digital platforms, patients can now learn about doctors, hospitals and treatment procedures in advance, boosting their confidence.
To make access easier for foreign patients, India now offers e-Medical Visas to citizens of 172 countries. It also provides e-Medical Attendant Visas for accompanying caregivers.
A separate e-Ayush Visa category has been introduced for those seeking treatment through traditional Indian systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and Homoeopathy.
The Heal in India portal is also being developed into a unified platform for international patients.
