Wellness Meets Value: India Rises as a Global Medical Travel Destination

India is emerging as one of the fastest-growing destinations for Medical Value Travel (MVT), combining world-class medical infrastructure, highly skilled healthcare professionals and cost-effective treatment with the country’s unique strength in traditional systems of medicine and holistic wellness.

India’s Position in Global Medical Travel
- India is now one of the fastest-growing destinations for medical tourism, combining:
- World-class hospitals and specialists
- Cost-effective treatments
- Traditional AYUSH systems (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy)
- This integrated ecosystem attracts international patients seeking quality, affordability, and holistic wellness.

Policy-Driven Initiatives
- Ayush Visa (2023): Dedicated visa for foreign nationals seeking AYUSH treatments.
- Ayush Quality Mark (2025): Internationally aligned assurance framework for AYUSH products and services.
- ISO 22525 adoption: Bureau of Indian Standards aligned with global standards for Medical Value Travel.
- Insurance Coverage: 27 companies now cover AYUSH treatments, boosting patient confidence.

Growth Momentum
- International patients visiting India grew from 182,945 (2020) to 644,387 (2024).
- Yoga, Ayurveda, and wellness therapies are major contributors to this surge.
- Public–private partnerships and 100% FDI in medical infrastructure have strengthened India’s competitiveness.

Leadership Voices
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
> “India sees medical value travel and health workforce mobility as important for a healthy planet.”
He emphasized India’s holistic health traditions—Yoga, meditation, Ayurveda—as global solutions for stress and lifestyle diseases.

- Prataprao Jadhav, MoS (IC), Ministry of Ayush:
> “Medical Value Travel is not only about affordability, but about trust, quality and outcomes.”

- Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush:
> “Credibility and standardisation are key to sustaining global growth.”

Strategic Advantages
- Holistic Care: Integration of modern medicine with AYUSH systems.
- Preventive Health: Focus on lifestyle disease management, rehabilitation, and wellness.
- Global Outreach: Showcased at WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine and major AYUSH summits in Mumbai (2024) and Chennai (2025).
- Skill Development: Over 37,000 professionals certified in AYUSH roles since 2021.

Big Picture
India’s medical tourism story is evolving from cost advantage to global trust, driven by policy support, visa facilitation, insurance coverage, and international quality benchmarks. The blend of modern healthcare excellence with ancient wellness traditions positions India as a reliable, holistic, and evidence-based global healthcare destination.