Indian healthcare sector
India has always been a major center of better treatment for people around the world. Every year lakhs of foreign citizens come to our country to get treatment for their diseases. This is called medical tourism. When foreign patients come here, foreign exchange comes into the country and many new employment opportunities are created. Recently, amidst the ongoing diplomatic movements around the world, some changes have been seen in the number of patients coming to India. In view of this, the hospitals and government of the country are now making major changes in their strategy. Instead of just providing ‘cheap treatment’, India is now preparing to provide the best services to patients around the world with the help of its hi-tech facilities.
Millions of medical tourists come to India
Before the pandemic, in the year 2019, a record 6,97,453 foreign nationals came to India for treatment. At the same time, according to the recent data of the Immigration Bureau, 4,50,633 medical tourists have reached India between January and November 2025. This change in figures has not come suddenly. This difference has been seen in the number of foreign patients due to the ongoing tension and travel restrictions in many parts of the world including Western Asia. However, the country’s healthcare industry is seeing this as a temporary change and is making new plans on a large scale for the future.
influence of neighboring countries
Most of the patients in Indian hospitals have always come from the neighboring country Bangladesh. Due to major political changes in the year 2024, movement between the two countries has been affected. While more than 17.5 lakh Bangladeshis came to India in the year 2024, till November in 2025 this number has been around 4.66 lakh. Girdhar Gyani, Director General of the Association of Healthcare Providers of India, says that the delay in getting visas and diplomatic changes have had a direct impact on the number of patients. However, as soon as the situation becomes normal, there is full hope that it will be back on track again.
Competition from Asian countries, what is India’s new plan?
Today, countries like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are providing excellent medical facilities at the international level. In such a situation, India is now facing tough competition from them. Healthcare experts believe that India will now have to change its strategy in the international market. Now we have to avoid presenting ourselves merely as a ‘country with cheap treatment’. Instead, the entire focus of hospitals is now on providing state-of-the-art technology, very fast and completely reliable healthcare services. This change will make India a premium and trusted healthcare brand globally.
What do the country’s big hospitals say?
Amidst all these changes, the country’s big hospitals have very positive expectations from the future. Sunita Reddy, Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, believes that this effect of international tension is for a very short period. He estimates that in the coming time, the demand for people coming to India for treatment from Sri Lanka, Indonesia and CIS countries will increase rapidly. India will be at the forefront especially in the treatment of complex diseases like cancer, heart and neuro. Similarly, Max Healthcare Chairman Abhay Soi believes that the changes taking place at the international level are bringing new opportunities for India. If important arrangements like visa are made more easy, then India’s medical tourism sector is once again ready to touch new heights with its full strength.
