Quick answer: Medical tourism in India means travelling to India for medical treatment, usually for surgery, cancer care, transplants, heart procedures, orthopaedics or fertility treatment. India received about 6.44 lakh foreign arrivals for medical purposes in 2024, according to Bureau of Immigration figures shared in Parliament. Patients come mainly for lower costs than in many countries, experienced specialists, English-speaking hospitals and shorter waiting times. To travel safely, choose an accredited hospital, get a written treatment plan and estimate before you fly, use the e-Medical Visa, and plan follow-up care at home.
Last updated: 29 September 2026. Prepared by the NEIMHAANS editorial team using the official and published sources listed at the end of this guide.
Medical tourism in India at a glance
| Topic | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Foreign medical arrivals | 6,44,387 in 2024; about 4.5 lakh from January to November 2025 (provisional) |
| Largest source country | Bangladesh, with 4,82,336 medical arrivals in 2024 |
| Other major sources | Iraq, Somalia, Oman and Uzbekistan |
| Main visa | e-Medical Visa, generally 60 days from first arrival with multiple entries, according to the official e-Visa FAQ, plus up to two e-Medical Attendant Visas |
| Traditional medicine | Separate Ayush visa category for treatment under Ayurveda, Yoga and other Indian systems |
| Common treatments | Heart surgery, orthopaedics, cancer care, organ and bone marrow transplants, neurosurgery, fertility treatment |
| Leading hubs | Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kerala and Vellore |
| Quality signals | NABH accreditation in India, JCI accreditation at some hospitals, NABL for laboratories |
What is medical tourism in India?
Medical tourism, also called medical value travel, is when a person travels to another country or region mainly to receive healthcare. In India it covers two groups. The first is international patients who travel from abroad for treatment. The second, often overlooked, is medical travel within India, such as families from the Northeast travelling thousands of kilometres to hospitals in South India. Both face similar challenges: choosing the right hospital, managing costs, travelling while unwell and arranging care far from home.
India’s government promotes the sector under the “Heal in India” initiative, which positions the country as a destination for both modern medicine and traditional systems such as Ayurveda and Yoga.
Medical tourism in India in numbers
According to Bureau of Immigration data shared by the Ministry of Tourism in Parliament and reported by DD News, foreign tourist arrivals for medical purposes were:
| Year | Foreign arrivals for medical purposes |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 6,97,453 |
| 2020 | 1,82,945 (pandemic year) |
| 2021 | Over 3.2 lakh |
| 2022 | Over 4.7 lakh |
| 2023 | About 6.5 lakh |
| 2024 | 6,44,387 |
| 2025 (January to November, provisional) | About 4,50,633 |
Two points help you read these figures correctly. First, they count arrivals, not people, so a patient who visits twice is counted twice. Second, the market depends heavily on one neighbour: Bangladesh alone accounted for 4,82,336 medical arrivals in 2024, and its numbers fell after political unrest there, which explains most of the recent dip. Iraq, Somalia, Oman and Uzbekistan are the next largest sources. India has also been ranked 10th out of 46 destinations in the Medical Tourism Index published by the Medical Tourism Association.
Why patients choose India
- Cost. Treatment in India typically costs a fraction of prices in the United States, the United Kingdom, much of Europe and many Gulf private hospitals.
- Experienced specialists. Large Indian hospitals treat very high numbers of patients, which gives surgical teams deep experience in complex procedures.
- English. English is widely used in major hospitals, alongside Hindi and regional languages.
- Shorter waits. Planned surgery can often be scheduled within weeks.
- Accredited hospitals. Many hospitals hold NABH accreditation, and some also hold JCI accreditation.
- Traditional medicine. India is one of few countries where Ayurveda and Yoga are formally recognised systems with their own visa category.
These advantages are real, but they are not automatic. Quality varies between hospitals, and the savings only hold if the whole trip is planned well. Read more in why international patients choose India.
How much does treatment in India cost?
The Medical Tourism Association’s India destination guide estimates that medical procedures in India cost about 60 to 90 percent less than in the United States, with approximate ranges such as knee replacement from 4,000 to 9,000 US dollars, hip replacement from 5,000 to 10,000 US dollars and heart bypass from 5,000 to 8,000 US dollars. These are broad published ranges, not quotes. Real costs depend on the hospital, the surgeon, the patient’s condition, the implant, the room category and the length of stay.
Families should budget for the whole trip, not just the hospital:
| Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Treatment | Hospital estimate: surgery, doctors, room, medicines, tests, implants |
| Extra medical costs | Items outside the estimate, longer stays, complications |
| Travel | Flights for patient and attendants, airport transfers |
| Visas | e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant visa fees |
| Stay | Accommodation near the hospital before and after admission |
| Daily living | Food, local travel, phone data, laundry |
| Follow-up | Reviews after discharge, medicines, possible return visit |
Our detailed cost guides cover heart surgery, knee and hip replacement, liver transplant, kidney transplant, bone marrow transplant, IVF and CAR-T cell therapy. For how bills, packages and insurance work, see our complete guide to hospital costs in India.
Treatments international patients travel for
| Specialty | Examples |
|---|---|
| Cardiology and heart surgery | Angioplasty, bypass surgery, valve surgery, paediatric heart surgery |
| Orthopaedics | Knee and hip replacement, spine surgery, sports injuries |
| Oncology | Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, bone marrow transplant. See cancer treatment hospitals in India |
| Transplants | Kidney and liver transplants from related living donors, under Indian transplant law |
| Neurosciences | Brain and spine surgery, epilepsy and stroke care |
| Fertility | IVF and related treatment at clinics registered under the ART Act, 2021 |
| Other | Bariatric surgery, eye surgery, dental care, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery |
Top cities for medical tourism in India
| City or region | Known for | Practical notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi NCR | Large multispecialty hospitals in Delhi and Gurugram, AIIMS New Delhi | Well connected; long distances and winter air quality. See Delhi NCR hospitals |
| Mumbai | Tata Memorial Hospital for cancer care; large private hospitals | Traffic and costly stays near hospitals. See Mumbai hospitals |
| Chennai | Transplants, cancer care, long experience with international patients | See best hospitals in Chennai |
| Bangalore | Multispecialty and dedicated cancer centres, strong technology sector | See Bangalore hospitals for international patients |
| Hyderabad | Growing hub for multispecialty care at competitive prices | See best hospitals in Hyderabad |
| Kerala (Kochi and others) | Multispecialty hospitals and Ayurveda wellness | See Kochi guide |
| Vellore | Christian Medical College, one of India’s best-known teaching hospitals | Very busy; see Vellore guide |
For a hospital-by-hospital view, read best hospitals in India for international patients.
Visas for medical tourism in India
| Visa | Who it is for | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| e-Medical Visa | Patients travelling for treatment | Apply online on the official e-Visa website; generally 60 days from first arrival with multiple entries, according to the official e-Visa FAQ; needs a hospital invitation letter |
| e-Medical Attendant Visa | Up to two blood relatives accompanying the patient | Linked to the patient’s application; same general validity |
| Regular Medical Visa | Longer or complex treatment | Applied for through an Indian mission; extensions handled through the FRRO system |
| Ayush Visa | Treatment under Ayurveda, Yoga and other Indian systems | Separate category introduced in 2023 |
| OCI card | People of Indian origin with Overseas Citizenship of India | Generally no separate medical visa needed |
Rules change, so always confirm on the official website. Our medical visa guide explains each step.
How to choose a hospital and doctor
- Start with your diagnosis. Choose hospitals with strong departments for your specific condition, not just a famous name.
- Check accreditation. NABH or JCI for hospitals, NABL for labs. Verify on the official lists. See JCI vs NABH accreditation.
- Ask about experience. How many patients with your condition does the team treat each year?
- Get a written plan and estimate. Include inclusions, exclusions, expected days and the implant planned.
- Get a second opinion if unsure. Many hospitals review reports remotely. See getting a second opinion before you travel.
- Check practical support. International patient desk, interpreters, visa letters and airport transfers.
How medical tourism to India works, step by step
- Collect your records: reports, scans, discharge summaries and a letter from your doctor.
- Shortlist hospitals and send your records for review.
- Compare written plans and estimates on the same basis.
- Confirm the hospital and dates, and receive the invitation letter.
- Apply for visas for the patient and up to two attendants.
- Plan travel and stay near the hospital, with a buffer for extra days.
- Arrive, register and complete tests, then treatment.
- Recover nearby until the doctor confirms you are fit to fly.
- Go home with a document pack and a follow-up plan.
Risks and how to reduce them
Medical tourism is safe for most patients when planned carefully, but every treatment carries risks, and travel adds some of its own. Being honest about them is part of planning well.
| Risk | How to reduce it |
|---|---|
| Choosing the wrong hospital or doctor | Choose by specialty, accreditation and experience; get a second opinion |
| Complications after surgery | Stay nearby long enough; know the warning signs; agree follow-up |
| Unexpected costs | Written estimates, a buffer, understanding exclusions |
| Travel after surgery | Follow the surgeon’s advice on when to fly; ask about precautions on long flights |
| Gaps in follow-up at home | Take full records; agree how doctors will share information |
| Agents and scams | Deal with hospitals directly or through transparent services; never pay into personal accounts |
| Legal issues with transplants | Follow Indian transplant law; bring related donors and required documents |
See also is India safe for medical treatment, does travel insurance cover treatment in India and emergency medical evacuation to India.
Facilitators, concierges or going direct?
| Option | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital international desk | Patients who have already chosen a hospital | Advice focused on that hospital |
| Medical tourism facilitator | Patients wanting help comparing hospitals | Referral fees from hospitals; ask who pays them |
| Independent medical concierge | Families wanting end-to-end coordination and on-ground support | Clear written scope and fees |
Read what a medical tourism facilitator actually does and 10 questions to ask a medical concierge.
Medical tourism packages: what they include
Many hospitals offer packages that bundle a procedure, a set number of days, routine medicines and tests. Some facilitators add airport transfers and accommodation. Packages are useful for planning, but they are not always fixed: longer stays, complications and exclusions are usually charged separately. See are hospital package rates fixed.
Wellness, Ayurveda and recovery
India’s traditional systems attract patients in their own right, and Kerala in particular is known for Ayurveda. If you combine modern treatment with wellness, tell your surgeon first and keep the two separate unless your doctors agree. For supervised recuperation after surgery, see post-surgery recovery retreats in India.
After you return home
Recovery continues at home. Before leaving India, collect the discharge summary, all reports, prescriptions with generic names and a written follow-up plan, and agree how your Indian doctor and your doctor at home will share information. See how follow-up works after you fly home and medical report translation.
Medical travel within India
Not all medical tourism crosses borders. Every year, many families travel within India for specialised care, for example from the Northeast to Vellore, Bangalore, Chennai or Hyderabad. They face the same practical questions as international patients: which hospital, what it will cost, where to stay and who will help. Read how to plan medical travel from Northeast India to South India and medical travel from Assam to South India.
Guides for patients from specific countries
We have country guides for patients from Nigeria, Kenya and East Africa, the UAE, Oman and the Gulf and the US and UK, and comparisons of India vs Turkey vs Thailand and India vs the UAE.
A realistic planning timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 to 8 weeks before | Collect records, shortlist hospitals, request reviews and written estimates |
| 4 to 6 weeks before | Choose the hospital, confirm dates, get the invitation letter, check insurance |
| 3 to 4 weeks before | Apply for e-Medical and attendant visas; book flights you can change |
| 2 weeks before | Book accommodation near the hospital; arrange money and payment methods |
| Week of travel | Pack records, medicines and documents; confirm airport pickup and first appointment |
| After treatment | Recover nearby, collect your document pack, plan follow-up at home |
Urgent treatment can move much faster, and complex treatment such as transplants may take longer because of donor approvals.
Money, payments and insurance
- Ask how to pay. Hospitals commonly accept international cards and bank transfers; confirm the hospital’s official account directly with its billing desk.
- Plan for currency movement between getting a quote and paying.
- Keep every receipt and the itemised bill, especially if you will claim from an insurer.
- Check your insurance. Many home-country and travel policies do not cover planned treatment abroad; some international policies do with pre-approval.
- Understand refunds. Ask how unused deposits are refunded to an overseas account.
See paying hospital bills by UPI, card or cash and how to ask for an itemised hospital bill.
When to travel
Treatment timing should follow medical need, but where you have a choice, weather and seasons matter. North India can have very hot summers and poor air quality with fog in winter. The south-west monsoon brings heavy rain to much of India from roughly June to September, and Chennai’s rainy season is later, around October to December. Major festivals can make flights and hotels busier. None of these usually stop treatment, but they are worth considering when you plan recovery time and travel.
Language, food and everyday life
English is widely used in major hospitals, and many large hospitals provide interpreters for languages such as Arabic, French, Russian, Bengali and Swahili; confirm before you travel. Outside the consultation room, local languages matter more: Tamil in Chennai, Kannada in Bangalore, Telugu in Hyderabad, Malayalam in Kerala and Hindi in the north. Hospital canteens usually offer simple meals, and many large hospitals can prepare diets to medical instructions. Families on longer stays often prefer accommodation with a small kitchen. See interpreter support in India and budgeting for stay and food near the hospital.
Travelling with a caregiver
A caregiver makes a large difference, both practically and emotionally. Up to two blood relatives can accompany a patient on e-Medical Attendant Visas. Choose someone who can stay for the whole treatment, handle paperwork, talk to the medical team and look after their own health. For longer stays, families sometimes rotate caregivers within visa rules.
Questions to ask before you book
- What exactly is my diagnosis and the planned treatment?
- Who will treat me, and how much experience do they have with my condition?
- What does the written estimate include and exclude?
- How long will I be in hospital, and how long should I stay in India afterwards?
- What could go wrong, and how would it be handled?
- How will follow-up work after I return home?
Related guides
- Medical tourism statistics India 2026: official data and trends
- Best countries for medical tourism: rankings and how India compares
- Medical tourism packages in India: what’s included and how to compare
- Ayush visa India: travelling for Ayurveda and traditional treatment
How NEIMHAANS helps
NEIMHAANS is a non-clinical healthcare concierge that has supported families travelling for treatment since 2007. We help patients organise records, compare hospitals and written estimates, prepare visa documents, plan travel and accommodation, navigate the hospital on the ground, keep families informed and plan follow-up. We do not provide medical treatment or advice, and we are not affiliated with any hospital. Learn what a medical concierge service is or explore our services.
Sources
- DD News: Over 6.4 lakh foreign tourists visited India for medical treatment in 2024 (Bureau of Immigration data, Lok Sabha reply)
- The Daily Star: Bangladeshi medical arrivals to India in 2024 (Rajya Sabha reply)
- Lokmat Times: Source countries, Medical Tourism Index rank and Ayush visas (Parliament reply)
- Factly: Medical visas and how arrivals are counted
- Medical Tourism Association: India destination guide
- Government of India: Official e-Visa website
Frequently asked questions
What is medical tourism in India?
Medical tourism in India means travelling to India mainly to receive medical treatment. It includes international patients and people travelling within India for specialised care.
How many medical tourists visit India each year?
According to Bureau of Immigration data shared in Parliament, India recorded 6,44,387 foreign arrivals for medical purposes in 2024, and about 4.5 lakh from January to November 2025 (provisional).
Which country sends the most medical tourists to India?
Bangladesh, with 4,82,336 medical arrivals in 2024. Iraq, Somalia, Oman and Uzbekistan are other major sources.
Why is treatment cheaper in India?
Lower operating and staff costs, high patient volumes and competitive private healthcare keep prices lower than in many countries. The Medical Tourism Association estimates procedures cost about 60 to 90 percent less than in the United States, though real costs vary.
Is medical tourism in India safe?
It is safe for most patients who choose accredited hospitals, get written plans and estimates, stay nearby long enough after treatment and arrange follow-up at home. Every treatment carries some risk.
What visa do I need for treatment in India?
Most patients use the e-Medical Visa, generally valid for 60 days from first arrival with multiple entries, according to the official e-Visa FAQ, with up to two relatives on e-Medical Attendant Visas. OCI cardholders generally do not need a separate medical visa.
Which Indian cities are best for medical tourism?
Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kerala and Vellore are leading hubs. The best choice depends on your treatment and the hospital, not the city alone.
How long should I stay in India after surgery?
It depends on the procedure. Your surgeon will advise when you are fit to fly; plan a buffer of extra days in your budget and visa.
Do I need a medical tourism facilitator?
Not always. Some patients deal directly with hospitals. A transparent facilitator or concierge can help with comparisons, logistics and on-ground support; ask who pays them.
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Figures and rules change; always confirm with hospitals and official sources. NEIMHAANS is independent and not affiliated with any hospital named here.