Medical tourism has become a growing part of the tourism and healthcare sectors worldwide, as a result of the increasing cost of healthcare, waiting times, and the need for cost-effective and high-quality medical care. The cost-effective health care services, internationally recognized hospitals, advanced medical technologies and highly qualified health care professionals make India one of the top tourist destinations for medical tourism. Moreover, the traditional wellness systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, and Unani have helped to bolster the India's healthcare image in the world. In the present study, the effect of various initiatives by the government on the development and expansion of medical tourism in India is studied. The research is descriptive and analytical in nature and uses secondary data that are obtained from government reports, publications of the Ministry of Tourism, policy documents, reports from healthcare industry, journals and organisations from various countries. The study assesses the effectiveness of major schemes launched by the government like “Heal in India”, e-medical visa, Ayushman Bharat, promotion of AYUSH system, digital healthcare reforms, and investments in healthcare infrastructure. The results indicate that government policies have contributed greatly to the competitiveness of India in the medical tourism industry by bringing in foreign patient inflow, making healthcare more accessible and creating economic opportunities. The report also reveals issues like non-standardization, infrastructure gaps, ethical concerns and growing international competition. The paper suggests that the medical tourism sector in India has a bright future, provided it receives proper policy support and quality assurance measures, along with integration with the healthcare industry and effective branding initiatives, especially internationally.
Dr Shilpi (2026) studied this question.