Medical Tourism in India
Kartavya Desk Staff
Context: India witnessed 1.31 lakh foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) for medical purposes between January and April 2025, highlighting a sharp surge in medical tourism as per data from the Ministry of Tourism.
About Medical Tourism in India:
• What is Medical Tourism? Medical tourism refers to the practice of people travelling to another country to obtain medical treatment—ranging from surgeries to wellness therapies—often due to affordability, quality, or availability of procedures.
• Medical tourism refers to the practice of people travelling to another country to obtain medical treatment—ranging from surgeries to wellness therapies—often due to affordability, quality, or availability of procedures.
• Key Trends:
• FTAs for medical reasons in Jan–Apr 2025: 1,31,856 (4.1% of total FTAs). Top source countries (2024): Bangladesh (4.8 lakh), Iraq, Somalia, Oman, and Uzbekistan. 2024 total medical FTAs: 6.44 lakh (up from 1.82 lakh in 2020). Government efforts: ‘Heal in India’ initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. e-Medical Visa extended to 171 countries. Public-private partnerships to integrate hospitals, facilitators, hotels, and airlines. State-level initiatives: Gujarat promoting wellness retreats, training staff, and showcasing infrastructure globally.
• FTAs for medical reasons in Jan–Apr 2025: 1,31,856 (4.1% of total FTAs).
• Top source countries (2024): Bangladesh (4.8 lakh), Iraq, Somalia, Oman, and Uzbekistan.
• 2024 total medical FTAs: 6.44 lakh (up from 1.82 lakh in 2020).
• Government efforts: ‘Heal in India’ initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. e-Medical Visa extended to 171 countries. Public-private partnerships to integrate hospitals, facilitators, hotels, and airlines.
• ‘Heal in India’ initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• e-Medical Visa extended to 171 countries.
• Public-private partnerships to integrate hospitals, facilitators, hotels, and airlines.
• State-level initiatives: Gujarat promoting wellness retreats, training staff, and showcasing infrastructure globally.
Relevance to UPSC Syllabus:
• GS Paper 2: Health and Governance Government schemes, public-private health initiatives, diplomacy through healthcare
• Government schemes, public-private health initiatives, diplomacy through healthcare
• GS Paper 3: Economy, Infrastructure Growth of the service sector, export of health services
• Growth of the service sector, export of health services