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July 26, 2024 – India has become a significant destination for medical tourism, attracting thousands of international patients each year. The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been actively promoting India’s medical tourism sector through various initiatives.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched India’s official portal for Medical Value Travel (MVT), accessible at https://healinindia.gov.in/. This portal is designed to streamline information and the patient journey for international medical travelers, making it easier for them to access medical treatment in India.
To further facilitate the influx of international patients, the Government of India has extended the e-medical visa and e-medical attendant visa facility to nationals of 167 countries. This initiative aims to simplify the visa process, encouraging more foreign nationals to seek medical treatment in India.
The efforts have shown promising results, with a steady increase in the number of foreign tourists arriving for medical purposes over the past few years. According to the Bureau of Immigration (BOI), the year-wise foreign tourist arrivals for medical purposes are as follows:
- 2020: 183,000
- 2021: 304,000
- 2022: 475,000
- 2023: 635,000 (provisional data)
In addition to easing the visa process, the Government of India has made special provisions for loans to build healthcare infrastructure in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. This move has encouraged many major hospitals to invest in these regions, expanding their reach and making specialty procedures like dental implants and cosmetic surgeries available in smaller cities.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha, highlighted these efforts and their impact on the medical tourism sector. The government’s holistic approach to promoting medical tourism is not only enhancing India’s reputation as a healthcare destination but also contributing to the overall development of the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
As India continues to build its medical tourism capabilities, it is poised to become a global hub for medical travelers seeking high-quality and affordable healthcare services.
