Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal set an annual target of 10 million international medical value tourists for India during the Sanjeevani 2026 expo in New Delhi on 7 September 2026. He also stated that 3.5 million international patients have used Indian healthcare services over the past seven years.
Medical Value Tourism in India
Medical value tourism refers to cross-border travel for treatment, surgery, diagnostics, and recovery services. India has hospitals, speciality centres, and tertiary care facilities that serve patients from Asia, Africa, West Asia, and other regions.
Pricing, Accreditation and Patient Trust
Goyal asked hospitals to publish transparent treatment prices and register on the government’s Heal in India online gateway. He also said that international patients should receive treatment only in National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers-accredited and verified hospitals.
Support Services and Industry Measures
The proposed roadmap includes cashless payments, faster insurance claims, and pre-travel teleconsultation for foreign patients. It also includes training language interpreters and expanding medical tourism networks into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Important Facts for Exams
- India’s advanced clinical care was described as 60% to 80% cheaper than in developed nations.
- The Heal in India gateway is linked with the government’s medical tourism framework.
- The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers is a quality accreditation body for hospitals in India.
- Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are smaller urban centres used in administrative and economic classification in India.
Medical Device Manufacturing Support
In a separate address, Goyal announced 100% funding through the Bureau of Indian Standards for advanced testing equipment for local medical device manufacturers. The Bureau of Indian Standards is India’s national standards body under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
