Medical and Wellness Tourism in India

India is emerging as a leading hub for Medical Value Travel (MVT) by integrating advanced medical infrastructure with traditional wellness systems such as AYUSH. Strong policy support, digital facilitation, and initiatives like AYUSH Visa and Regional Medical Hubs are strengthening the ecosystem. Rising global healthcare costs and demand for holistic care are driving international patients to India for affordable, high-quality treatment and preventive wellness solutions.

India’s Position in Global Medical Value Travel (MVT)
- Global MVT market: USD 115.6 billion (2022) → projected USD 286.1 billion (2030), CAGR ~10.8%.
- India’s medical tourism market: USD 8.7 billion (2025) → projected USD 16.2 billion (2030).
- India ranks:
- 10th among top 46 medical tourism destinations
- 12th among top 20 wellness tourism markets
- 5th among top 10 wellness destinations in Asia-Pacific

Medical Tourism
- Focus: curative interventions (surgeries, organ transplants, advanced diagnostics).
- In 2025: 507,244 foreign nationals arrived for medical treatment (~5.5% of total FTAs).
- Leading source countries: Bangladesh, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Turkmenistan, Oman, Kenya.
- Popular treatments: cardiac surgery, orthopaedics, cancer, organ transplants, neurology, cosmetic surgery, dental care, fertility treatment.

Wellness Tourism
- Focus: preventive and holistic well-being through AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy).
- Government initiatives:
- AYUSH Visa (introduced July 2023) for foreign nationals seeking traditional therapies
. - Insurance coverage expanded—27 insurers now offer 140+ products covering AYUSH treatments.
- ISO 22525 standard adopted for medical wellness tourism services.

Policy & Infrastructure Support
- Union Budget 2026–27:
- Establishment of five Regional Medical Hubs with integrated medical, AYUSH, and research facilities.
- Three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda proposed.
- Upgradation of WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, Jamnagar.
- Governance: National Medical & Wellness Tourism Promotion Board (NMWTB) coordinates ministries, states, and private sector.
- Digital facilitation:
- Revamped MVT Portal for booking and post-care.
- Airport concierge lounges planned for international patients.

Strategic Impact
India is positioning itself as a 365-day global healing hub, combining:
- Modern medical infrastructure (69,364 hospitals, 1.2M doctors, NABH/JCI accreditation).
- Traditional wellness systems (Yoga, Ayurveda, AYUSH therapies).
- Strong government facilitation, affordability, and international credibility.

This integrated approach—“Heal in India”—is designed to make India a trusted destination for both curative medical travel and preventive wellness tourism.