For centuries, India’s culture, food, and historic sites have attracted visitors from all over the world. Recently, however, tourists have been traveling to India to receive medical treatment. This has led to the emergence of a new, rapidly expanding sector in India: medical tourism.
The rise of medical tourism is a global trend, with 14-16 million travelers crossing international borders in 2017 to seek treatment. While fertility treatments claim the largest segment of the international market, people primarily visit India for bone-marrow transplants, cardiac bypass surgeries, eye surgeries, alternative medicine, and hip replacements.
In 2015, India’s medical tourism sector was worth $3 billion. According to India’s Ministry of Tourism, this figure is projected to grow by 200%, hitting $9 billion by 2020.
The key driver of medical tourism is cost. People in developed countries who can’t afford the extravagant prices of procedures in their home countries save up to 90% by receiving the same treatments in developing countries like India.
India’s rise in this international market is largely due to the reputation of its doctors and nurses high-quality training, which attracts patients seeking superior care and expertise. Furthermore, India’s diversity of language enables increased communication between doctors and international patients, enhancing the treatment experience.
The city of Chennai, known as India’s “health capital,” is home to various specialty facilities that are renowned for their low costs and short waiting periods. Chennai’s efficiency brings 150 international patients to India daily. Currently, Chennai provides medical treatment to 45% of the nation’s health tourists, offering half of its estimated 12,500 hospital beds to patients arriving from abroad.
Medical tourism has also provided a lucrative opportunity for private healthcare providers. In 2018, for instance, a chain of private hospitals known as MaxCare treated nearly 50,000 foreign patients from the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.
The Indian government has boosted the growth of this sector by removing visa restrictions from tourists requiring a two-month period between consecutive visits. The government has also allowed foreign nationals to stay in India for up to 30 days due to medical reasons.
Despite the competitiveness of the market’s international landscape, India remains committed to increasing its market presence. With the nation’s continuous efforts to improve its medical technology and services, the emerging country has the potential to become a global medical destination.
Chaya Levin is a sophomore studying Finance and Business Economics & Public Policy (BEPP). She is a research assistant in the BEPP Department, a member of the Wharton Global Research and Consulting Group, and a Public Policy Research Scholar. Her favorite things also include froyo, rollercoasters, and summer camps.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/13/health/india-medical-tourism-industry-intl/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_tourism_in_India
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2636228/
http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/48723982.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331521808_MEDICAL_TOURISM_IN_INDIA_STRENGTHS_AND_WEAKNESSES