Medical tourism India hit a fresh milestone this year: government data shows over 18.11 lakh foreign nationals travelled to the country for treatment between 2023 and 2025. That number alone tells you India has quietly become one of the world’s busiest destinations for affordable, high-quality healthcare.
Key Takeaways
- More than 18.11 lakh foreign patients came to India for medical care between 2023 and 2025, per figures shared by the government.
- Cardiac care, orthopaedics, oncology, fertility treatment and cosmetic surgery draw the largest share of patients.
- Most arrivals are from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Maldives and other neighbouring or Gulf countries.
- Cost savings of 60-80% compared with the US or UK, combined with shorter waiting times, remain the biggest pull factor.
Why Is Medical Tourism India Growing So Fast in 2026?
Ask any hospital administrator in Chennai or Delhi and they’ll tell you the same thing: foreign patients aren’t coming for novelty, they’re coming because they can’t get the same treatment at home, or can’t afford it there. Medical tourism India has grown on the back of three things — cost, capability and speed.
India now has dozens of NABH and JCI-accredited hospitals offering procedures that rival anything in Singapore or the US, but at a fraction of the price. For a patient from a country with a strained public health system, that gap matters more than a brochure ever could.
What Do the Numbers Actually Say?
According to data placed before Parliament, roughly 18.11 lakh foreign nationals entered India specifically for medical treatment across the 2023-25 window. That’s not a one-year spike — it reflects a steady climb since the pandemic-era slump, when medical travel had nearly stopped.
Here’s a rough sense of where these patients typically come from and why, based on patterns hospitals and trade bodies have reported over the past few years:
| Source Region | Common Reason for Travel | Popular Treatment Areas |
| Bangladesh | Limited specialist access at home | Cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics |
| Afghanistan & Iraq | Conflict-affected local healthcare | Trauma care, general surgery |
| Maldives & Sri Lanka | Proximity, tertiary care gaps | Cardiac, neurology, IVF |
| Gulf countries | Cost and language comfort | Cosmetic surgery, dental, wellness |
Which Treatments Bring the Most Patients to India?
Cardiac surgery leads the pack, followed closely by joint replacements and cancer treatment. Fertility clinics in cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru have also seen a sharp rise in overseas patients, partly because IVF costs abroad can run three to four times higher.
Cosmetic and dental procedures round out the list — often bundled with a short recovery holiday in Goa or Kerala, which hospitals have started marketing as a package deal.
How Does India Compare on Cost With Other Countries?
This is where medical tourism India really sells itself. A heart bypass that costs upwards of $100,000-$150,000 in the US can be done in a top Indian hospital for roughly $7,000-$10,000, including a hospital stay. The gap isn’t quite as extreme for every procedure, but it’s consistently large.
| Procedure | Approx. Cost in India | Approx. Cost in US/UK |
| Heart bypass surgery | $7,000 – $10,000 | $70,000 – $150,000 |
| Knee replacement | $5,000 – $7,000 | $30,000 – $50,000 |
| IVF cycle | $2,500 – $4,000 | $12,000 – $20,000 |
These are broad ranges, not fixed prices — actual costs vary by hospital, city and the patient’s specific condition.
What’s the India Angle Other Reports Miss?
Most coverage of medical tourism India stops at the cost comparison. What often gets left out is how state governments are now actively competing for this business. Kerala has long leaned on Ayurveda and wellness retreats, and wellness resorts like Karnataka’s Kshemavana have recently picked up international recognition for exactly this kind of holistic, longer-stay care.
That’s a shift from the old model of “fly in, get treated, fly out.” Hospitals are increasingly pairing clinical treatment with recovery tourism — a patient gets a bypass in Chennai, then recovers for two weeks at a wellness centre nearby. It’s a genuinely India-specific innovation, not something you’ll find replicated the same way in Thailand or Turkey, the country’s two biggest rivals in this space.
For more background on how this industry has evolved, Wikipedia’s overview of medical tourism in India is a useful starting point, though the figures there don’t yet reflect the latest government data.
What Should a Foreign Patient Check Before Choosing an Indian Hospital?
If you’re a patient — or a family member researching this for someone else — a few checks matter more than glossy websites:
- Confirm the hospital is NABH or JCI accredited; this isn’t optional for safety.
- Apply for a proper medical visa (e-Medical or e-Medical Attendant visa), not a tourist visa.
- Ask for a written cost estimate covering surgery, stay, and follow-up, not just the procedure fee.
- Check if the hospital has an international patient desk that handles translation and travel logistics.
- Verify the surgeon’s individual track record, not just the hospital’s overall reputation.
FAQ
How many foreign patients visited India for treatment recently?
Government data shows more than 18.11 lakh foreign nationals came to India for medical treatment during 2023-25.
Which countries send the most medical tourists to India?
Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Maldives are among the top source countries, alongside patients from Gulf nations.
Is medical tourism India cheaper than going to the US or UK?
Yes, typically. Many procedures cost 60-90% less in India, even after factoring in travel and stay.
What visa do foreign patients need for treatment in India?
They generally need an e-Medical visa, and a separate e-Medical Attendant visa is available for one accompanying person.
Is it safe to get treated in an Indian hospital as a foreigner?
NABH or JCI-accredited hospitals follow globally benchmarked safety and quality protocols, so accreditation is the key thing to verify. As always, discuss risks and options directly with a qualified doctor before travelling for treatment.
The 18.11 lakh figure isn’t just a statistic — it’s a sign that medical tourism India has moved from a niche industry into a genuine pillar of the country’s healthcare economy. For patients weighing their options abroad, India’s mix of cost, capability and now recovery-focused wellness care is hard to ignore.