India recorded 6.44 lakh foreign nationals travelling to the country for medical treatment in 2024, signalling a steady recovery in medical tourism after the pandemic-led disruption, according to data from the Bureau of Immigration.
The Centre informed Parliament on Monday that while the development and promotion of medical tourism destinations largely falls under the purview of State Governments and Union Territory administrations, it continues to project India as a unified global tourism destination, including in the medical and wellness tourism segment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted that the Ministry of Tourism has not conducted a standalone study to assess the current status, challenges, or growth potential of medical tourism in the country. The Ministry also does not maintain state-wise or purpose-wise data on foreign tourist arrivals or revenue generated specifically from medical tourism.
Government data, however, points to a consistent rebound in foreign tourist arrivals for medical purposes following the COVID-19 downturn. India had received nearly 6.97 lakh foreign patients in 2019, before international travel restrictions led to a sharp decline in 2020. Numbers have since recovered, crossing 6.59 lakh in 2023 and reaching 6.44 lakh in 2024. Provisional figures indicate that more than 4.5 lakh foreign tourists visited India for medical treatment between January and November 2025.
To strengthen India’s position and sustain growth in medical and wellness tourism, the Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism, which has been shared with relevant Central Ministries, State Governments, and industry stakeholders.
Further, the Services Export Promotion Council under the Ministry of Commerce has developed a dedicated portal, indiahealthcaretourism.com, offering information on accredited hospitals, wellness centres, healthcare providers, and visa-related processes. The Ministry of Tourism has linked this portal on its official platforms to improve accessibility for international patients.
To facilitate medical travel, the Government of India has also extended e-medical visa and e-medical attendant visa facilities to foreign nationals seeking treatment in the country.
