What Is Medical Tourism? — and How It Works (A Complete Guide)
Medical Tourism is a type of tourism in which people from another country visit a foreign country to get medical treatment. People look for efficient and advanced medical facilities, so they visit other countries for treatment.
India is rising in the field of Medical Tourism and is now among the top countries in the world. India has become a hub for medical tourism because many people come for treatment with advanced technology and highly efficient medical experts. This has made India a preferred destination for medical treatment.
In this guide, you will get full guidance about medical tourism and how India is becoming a hub.
What Is Medical Tourism?
Medical tourism is a type of tourism in which people from different countries visit another country for medical treatment.
People travel abroad for healthcare because of various reasons, such as:
- Advanced medical treatment
- High-tech technology used for precise treatment of diseases
- Personalized treatment for patients
- Less affordable (cost-effective) advanced treatment is available to the people
The difference between Regular Treatment and Medical Tourism is here:
In regular treatment, the person gets treatment in their home country. It might be possible that the treatment is not so advanced. The treatment provided depends on the presence of the technology that the home country has.
Medical Tourism
In this type of treatment, the patient gets treatment in another country where there is availability of all medical facilities for the diagnosis of the disease with advanced technology.
India became a hub for medical tourism because of various factors like:
- Presence of advanced technology and globally trained experts who provide treatment.
- Treatment is provided at 60–90% lower price than in other advanced foreign countries.
- The use of several traditional methods with advanced technology for early recovery, like Ayurveda, Yoga, and holistic therapies.
Why Is Medical Tourism Growing Worldwide?
- With time, different types of diseases are increasing in people. In developing countries like the USA, UK, and UAE, people get their treatments using advanced technology developed by medical experts. People from various countries visit these places for diagnosis.The demand for treatment is so high that it has made treatment in the USA, UK, and UAE extremely expensive.
- While India has advanced medical technology for medical treatment, along with foreign-trained experts and advanced tech facilities of different higher-level institutes, all the treatments are provided at a very low cost compared to the USA, UK, and UAE.
- In India, proper appointment links are provided with advanced hospitals and doctors who guide the diagnosis and treatment of the patient until proper recovery. The appointments are taken in a smooth manner, so there is no need for waiting in long lines for treatment.
- The treatments provided in India are with advanced technology at very affordable prices compared to Western countries.
- The quality of treatment in India is also very reliable. Certified doctors who hold years of experience, certification of foreign practices, and high recovery rates after treatment make India a preferred destination for patients compared to other countries.
Most Common Treatments International Patients Come to India For
In India, there are some of the top treatments for which the medical experts hold high levels of experience, and advanced technology for these treatments is also available.
Knee replacement and hip replacement – Orthopaedics
For orthopaedic treatment, proper knee replacement and hip replacement surgeries are provided by the experts in India.
Heart surgery
Heart surgeries with angioplasty and bypass procedures are provided. Heart surgical treatment is given using advanced techniques.
Cosmetic surgery
Cosmetic surgeries like reconstructive face structure correction, proper hair transplant, and skin treatments are provided.
Dental care
For the proper removal of cavities, filling of teeth, and full mouth procedures, proper dental treatment is given in India.
IVF and fertility
For IVF fertility treatment, there is the presence of proper equipment for accurate fertility procedures. Highly advanced IVF support is given to patients in India.
Vision and eye correction
Various eye correction treatments are given in India. Eye-related disease treatment is provided with advanced equipment like LASIK and cataract systems.
Cancer treatment is also provided in India without surgery, with several diagnosis and therapy options. Advanced cancer treatment is available.
There is proper hair transplant treatment and skin tone correction treatment given in India
5. How Medical Tourism Works — Step-by-Step (India Process Flow)
For medical tourism, there are facilities for getting all services without getting tense at any time — from treatment to documentation.
Take online consultation from top medical institutes of India through their official websites.
Share your medical reports with that medical institute and all the tests you did.
Then the Indian doctor will give you a plan of the whole treatment — from pre-treatment to post-rehabilitation. All the treatment costs are also given and explained by the doctor, which you are going to take in advance.
Then, for coming to India, you have to arrange a visa and take the proper travel package.
The,n after you have received the airport pickup after landing in India.
Then you take admission in the hospital, where all medical treatment will start.
You have to stay in India until proper recovery with the treatment.
After proper recovery, you can return to your home and follow up on the case.
Why India Is the Best Destination for Medical Tourism?
In India, medical tourism has developed very much because of various reasons.
- In India, there are various types of medical treatments provided by experts. The expert doctors hold world-class certifications from highly qualified institutes. These expert doctors have received training from foreign-recognised medical institutes.
- The medical hospitals of India are very much advanced, and many modern medical equipment are available, like JCI / NABH.
- The treatments are very affordable compared to other countries because the treatment is given at 60–80% less than the Western countries.
- There is a high rate of success in surgeries in India, and recovery after surgery is also very easy and fast.
- There is no need to wait in long queues to get appointments. The appointment takes only a short time and is given very early.
- The medical staff are trained to communicate with foreign patients in English language in India.
For international patients, complete support and guidance are provided — from airport pickup to all the recovery processes from medical care.
Benefits of Medical Tourism for International Patients
Medical Tourism Facilities for International Patients
While taking treatment, medical tourism for international patients is very beneficial because of various reasons, such as:
Affordable Cost
In India, compared to the USA and UAE, the treatment is provided at a very affordable cost.
Highly Qualified and Specialised Doctors
The doctors hold specialisation in their respective fields with recognition from high-ranked institutes.
Advanced Medical Technology
There is also the presence of advanced medical technology in India. The treatment is available at a very low cost compared to other countries.
Personalized Treatment
The treatment is provided in a personalised way, where doctors give full care and complete attention to patients individually.
Hygiene and Full-Time Support
For fast recovery, a safe full-fledged and hygienic environment is provided with 24/7 support from the medical staff in India.
Easy Travel and Visa Process
For a smooth travel and visa process, all documentation is handled easily, and proper care is given after arrival in India.
Is Medical Tourism Safe in India?
Yes, in India, Medical Tourism has developed very much and is completely safe. You can choose a well-verified hospital. They will provide you with all plans of treatment and the cost of the procedure in advance.
The doctors here hold high degrees and certifications from overseas medical institutions and have many years of practical medical experience. The recovery rate and success of surgeries performed by these doctors are very high.
Always select an accredited hospital that is equipped with advanced technologies and expert doctors. The JCI / NABH-certified hospitals are some of the best accredited hospitals.
For proper treatment, complete safety is ensured. Within the treatment, proper medical procedures are given to the patient to ensure the best results with the ultimate high recovery rate.
Medical Tourism Checklist
For Medical Tourism, there are some important points you must follow while travelling to India for medical treatment.
Take the passport and visa with you according to the time required for your medical treatment in India.
Take all the medical reports and test results, and the medicine list which you have taken for the diagnosis of the disease.
Plan your whole accommodation before moving to India.
Consult the doctor about the treatment duration, cost, and the type of treatment you will receive in India.
Take proper travel insurance to get help if you face any emergency during recovery.
Take the local SIM card of the country for easy communication and, if necessary, have a translator for conversations with people.
Also, make the after-medical care plan.
How to Choose the Right Medical Tourism Company in India
For choosing proper and safe treatment, you must check all the details of the medical institutes where you get treatment. This will help you choose the right medical tourism company in India for you.
First, check the accreditation of the company and take an overview of the people who already have facilities, and their experience with it. Also, check their recognition and recommendations.
Check the doctors’ credentials, their performance in medical tourism treatment, the success rate of treatment provided by doctors, and the certification of doctors.
Take proper knowledge of pricing and costs involved in the treatment.
Check the reviews of real patients who have already taken the treatment.
24/7 support should be provided, and the availability of medical staff must be ensured for proper care.
After treatment, there should also be proper care assistance provided by the doctors.
Final Words
India has now become the global hub for medical tourism because patients receive treatment at a very affordable cost and can get world-class healthcare services. Therefore, it is important to choose the right facilities and professionals who provide the best services and proper guidance in their medical treatment, as well as during their stay in the country.
To visit and stay in India for medical care, proper guidance and support are required. One of the best solutions for all these matters is hiring a medical tourism consultant. They encourage and assist patients in getting easy access to all medical care, from airport pickup to recovery support. All guidance and help will be provided by their team.
So, if you want to make a visit for medical tourism, hire a consultant now.
Reena Tilwani
Reena Kanyo Tilwani is the Head of International Patient Experience at Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA). With a strong clinical and patient-care background, she champions empathy-driven, culturally sensitive healthcare. Her work focuses on improving patient satisfaction, communication, and care quality across global health systems.
