**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Minister of Tourism to questions raised in the Lok Sabha regarding the status and growth potential of medical tourism in India. It outlines the Government's efforts to promote medical tourism, including the National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism. The answer was provided on 09.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tourism Promotion Efforts:**
* Development and promotion of tourist destinations, including medical tourism, is undertaken by respective State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.
* The Ministry of Tourism promotes India through various initiatives and takes up the promotion of medical & Wellness tourism as part of ongoing activities.
* **Data and Assessment:**
* The Ministry of Tourism has not conducted any study to assess the current status, key challenges and growth potential of medical tourism in India.
* The Ministry does not maintain state-wise data on foreign tourist arrivals and revenue earned due to medical tourism.
* **Foreign Tourist Arrivals (Medical Purpose):**
* Data from the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) is provided, showing the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for medical purposes from 2019 to November 2025 (provisional data).
* **Strategic Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism and circulated it to relevant stakeholders.
* **Information Portal:**
* The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) under the Ministry of Commerce has developed a website (http://www.indiahealthcaretourism.com) providing information on accredited hospitals, wellness centers, visa, healthcare providers, etc.
* **Visa Facilitation:**
* The Government of India has extended e-medical visa/e-medical attendant visa facilities to facilitate foreign nationals seeking medical treatment in India.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration**
* **Impact**: Responsible for the development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including medical tourism, within their respective jurisdictions.
* **Action Required**: Continue developing and promoting medical tourism initiatives.
**Central Ministries (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Commerce and Industry)**
* **Impact**: Involved in coordinating and potentially implementing policies or incentive measures to promote India as a global medical tourism hub.
* **Action Required**: Implement policies and incentive measures as proposed in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism.
**Industry Stakeholders**
* **Impact**: Are impacted by the National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism.
* **Action Required**: Align with the National Strategy and Roadmap, potentially through the SEPC portal.
Key Entities Referenced
Medical Tourism: The primary subject of the policy, encompassing the promotion, status, and growth potential of medical tourism in India.
Ministry of Tourism: The central ministry responsible for promoting India as a tourist destination, including medical tourism.
National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism: A key policy document formulated by the Ministry of Tourism to boost medical and wellness tourism in India.
e-medical visa/e-medical attendant visa: Visa facility extended by the Government of India to facilitate foreign nationals to visit India for medical treatment
Gujarat: Specific location referenced in the context of the number of foreign patients/medical tourists visiting the country and revenue generated from medical tourism
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1383
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
STATUS AND GROWTH POTENTIAL OF MEDICAL TOURISM
1383. MD ABU TAHER KHAN:
SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken specific measures for the
promotion of medical tourism in India as part of its tourism
promotion strategy, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has assessed the current status and
growth potential of medical tourism in India, including the number of
foreign patients/medical tourists visiting the country especially in
Gujarat and the revenue generated from medical tourism during the
last five years and the current year and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has identified key challenges affecting the
growth of medical tourism, such as visa facilitation, infrastructure
gaps, international accreditation, pricing transparency and
coordination among stakeholders and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government, in coordination with the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare and Ministry of Commerce and Industry proposes
to implement policy or incentive measures to promote India as a
global medical tourism hub and if so, the details and timelines
thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has taken any initiative to promote tourism
destination of India in domestic and global markets and if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (e): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and
products, including medical tourism is undertaken by the respective State
Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration.The Ministry of Tourism promotes India in a holistic manner, through
various initiatives. As part of on-going activities, promotion of medical &
Wellness tourism, is also taken up.
The Ministry of Tourism has not conducted any study to assess the
current status, key challenges and growth potential of medical tourism in
India. The Ministry of Tourism does not maintain data on State wise
purpose wise Foreign Tourist Arrivals and revenue earned due to medical
tourism.
As per the Bureau of Immigration (BOI), the total year-wise Foreign Tourist
Arrivals for medical purpose during last 5 years are given below:
Year FTAs in India FTAs for Medical Purposes
2019 1,09,30,355 6,97,453
2020 27,44,766 1,82,945
2021 15,27,114 3,23,748
2022 64,37,467 4,74,798
2023 95,20,928 6,59,356
2024 99,51,722 6,44,387
2025 (Jan to Nov) (P) 79,34,617 4,50,633
(P): Provisional
In order to provide impetus to the growth of Medical and Wellness
tourism in India and maintain India’s competitive advantage, Ministry of
Tourism formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and
Wellness Tourism and circulated to concerned Central Ministries, State
Governments and Industry Stakeholders.
The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) under the Ministry of
Commerce has developed a comprehensive website viz.,
http://www.indiahealthcaretourism.com which provides information on
accredited hospitals and wellness centres, visa, healthcare providers etc.
The Ministry of Tourism has provided a link to this portal on its official
websites.
To facilitate the visit of foreign nationals to come to India for medical
treatment, the Government of India has extended e-medical visa/ e-
medical attendant visa facility.
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