Gradual Ascent of India as a Medical Travel Powerhouse
India’s emergence as a hotbed of medical tourism has been a gradual process spanning decades. But in recent years, India has become a top destination for medical travelers seeking quality & affordable healthcare. One of the key factors driving the growth of medical tourism in India is highly qualified & experienced medical professionals. India has a large number of doctors & medical personnel known for their expertise in various medical fields such as cardiology, orthopaedics, neurology, oncology, etc.
Gradual Ascent of India as a Medical Travel Powerhouse
Another important aspect is the economic advantage offered by Indian healthcare providers. Medical costs in India are a fraction of the cost of countries like the US, UK, Australia, and other such developed nations. This makes India a luring option for foreign patients questing for wallet-friendly healthcare that doesn’t cost a fortune for them. As per FICCI, medical travel in India was worth approximately three billion dollars in the year 2015. This is expected to reach eight billion dollars by the year 2020 at a CAGR of fifteen percent. An estimated 495,056 medical travellers visited our country in the year 2017. They were mostly from the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, & the Maldives.
Government Efforts in This Direction
In Feb 2019, the Government of India expanded its e-tourist VISA program. This will now include medical visas as well. It is to lure medical travellers to Chennai, which is India’s medical capital. This move was targeted at simplifying the application process as well as travel related needs of medical travellers. Medical visas allow stays of up to 6 months. From August 30, 2019, international people have been allowed to undergo medical treatments here without medical visas, except for the procedures like organ transplants.
Statistics Corroborate the Fact That India Is Fast Emerging as a Leader in Medical Travel
More than 1.4 million medical travellers came to our country in the year 2022, making India one of the top hubs for medical travel. This was said by our tourism minister, Shripad Naik. Presently, around two million international patients visit our country every year, generating foreign exchange earnings of 4 billion dollars annually. Considering the progress, the future looks even much brighter than this!
Active Government Policies
Under the able leadership of PM Narendra Modi, Dr. Mansukh Madhavya (Minister of Health) declared that medical travel is a flagship sector. He also provided his unprecedented support towards this domain. The Government has been making substantial efforts to make India the top powerhouse for medical travel.
AYUSH Visa
To further promote medical travel, the Indian Government had announced the AYUSH Visa in April 2022. This visa is especially designed for foreign tourists finding medical treatments in our country using the Indian medical systems that include Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, Unani, & Homeopathy. Also, our government has set up a Board to boost India as a medical travel hub and formulate policies & guidelines for the same. With investments in infrastructure, technologies & services, we are ensuring tension-free stays for foreign patients here.
For an ideal stay here without many hurdles, keep Health Trawell by your side as a trusted ally supporting you all through your stay in India.
