India medical tourism revenue ‘will reach US$13 billion’ by 2026

A Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) report estimates the value of medical tourism in India as US$9 billion. Its predictions are that medical tourism revenue will reach US$13 billion by 2026 in India, compared to a state target of US$12 billion.

Corporate hospitals earned 10-15% of their total revenue from medical tourism in the pre-COVID period, and it fell to 5-6% due to the pandemic. However, the FICCI has said this is soon expected to rise to pre-COVID levels and even beyond.

India is a preferred country for medical tourism due to its low-cost yet high-quality medical treatment. Other reasons include a minimum waiting period, premium hospitality services, easy air connectivity and state promotion.

Five cities, Goa, New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Chennai are the leading destinations for medical tourism and wellness.

Most medical tourists are from Asian or African countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Indonesia and Kenya. Bangladesh and Afghanistan continue to be the top countries from where medical tourists come.

Other countries from where large numbers of medical tourists came to India include Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Iraq, Oman, Maldives, Yemen, Uzbekistan and Sudan.

The country offers a range of medical treatments including organ transplants, cosmetic surgery, dental care, and traditional practices such as Ayurveda and yoga.

For an in-depth profile of medical tourism sector in India, visit the IMTJ Country Profiles.