30th July 2025: India is cementing its status as a top global destination for medical tourists, combining high-quality treatments with significant cost savings. As of 2025, the industry is valued at $18.2 billion and is projected to hit $58.2 billion by 2035, growing at nearly 12–13% annually. In 2024 alone, over 460,000 medical visas were issued, and the country welcomed almost 2 million international patients from more than 75 nations, seeking everything from heart surgeries to Ayurveda retreats.
Major metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kerala remain the biggest draws for advanced treatments and holistic wellness, but Tier-II and Tier-III cities are increasingly in the spotlight, with vast investment potential and government-backed initiatives like the “Heal in India” campaign. India ranks 10th in medical tourism and 7th in wellness tourism worldwide. Most international visitors come from Bangladesh, Africa, and GCC countries, drawn by savings of up to 80% compared to Western care.
With investments targeting underserved regions and ongoing infrastructure upgrades, India’s blend of expert doctors, modern hospitals, and centuries-old wellness traditions is not just attracting more patients, it’s setting new global standards in cross-border care.
“India is no longer just emerging; it is positioning itself as the world’s most accessible, safest, and cost-effective destination for medical care. With over 1000+ NABH and 60+ JCI-accredited hospitals, world-class doctors, and treatment costs up to 80% lower than the West, we’re witnessing a sharp rise in medical travellers from Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Thanks to government initiatives like the Ayush and e-Medical Visas and the rise of digital health platforms, India offers not just care but coordinated healing. At Vaidam Health, we are proud to be at the forefront of this shift, delivering seamless, trusted, and patient-first experiences to people across the globe,” said Pankaj Chandna, Co-Founder, Vaidam Health.
“The recent Fortune India projection that India’s medical tourism market will reach USD 58.2 billion by 2035 is both a recognition of the sector’s remarkable growth trajectory and a strategic call for continued advancement. Having been closely engaged with this industry since its formative years, I view this milestone as the outcome of sustained policy support, internationally benchmarked clinical excellence, and India’s unique ability to deliver world‑class outcomes at highly competitive costs. The steady rise in medical visa issuances, the widening network of patient inflows from more than 78 countries, and the integration of traditional wellness with advanced medical care underscore our country’s growing global appeal. As we continue to be an active part of this growth, it is imperative to keep on focusing on strengthening post‑treatment continuity through robust digital health platforms, ensuring a consistently high standard of patient experience across all facilities, and expanding accredited Centres of Excellence beyond metropolitan hubs to match the scale of demand. With a collective and coordinated effort, India will not only achieve this projection but also redefine global benchmarks in patient‑centric, accessible, and trusted medical value travel,” said Rajeev Taneja, Founder and CEO, GlobalCare Health.
“At Medical Linkers, we see how India has deepened its healthcare engagement with patients globally, and they get more than just treatment. They get a sense of trust, empathy, and meaningful care experiences. As global demand rises, we as a country are evolving to meet these needs with enhanced patient support, acclaimed medical fraternity, support staff, and better infrastructure etc. Amidst this growth, we at medical linkers are ensuring that we continue to create a human connection with our patients because healthcare isn’t just about providing treatment to your patients, it’s about transforming lives,” said Sonam Garg Sharma, Founder and CEO of Medical Linkers.