July 2017
Government to standardize costs of medical tourism services
Medical tourism is a growing sector in India. In October 2015, India's medical tourism sector was estimated to be worth US$3 billion. It is projected to grow to $7–8 billion by 2020. Foreign patients travelling to India to seek medical treatment in 2012, 2013 and 2014 numbered 1,71,021, 2,36,898 and 1,84,298 respectively. Traditionally, the United States and the United Kingdom have been the largest source countries for medical tourism to India.
In great relief for foreign tourists visiting India for medical and wellness travel, the government has decided to standardize the cost of such services in the country through a centralized web portal.
"The growth of medical tourism and wellness in the country has been between 23 and 25 percent in the country and there is a lot of potential here, so we have decided to standardize services in this sector," Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said.
The National Board of Promotion of Medical Tourism and Welfare, within the framework of the Ministry of Tourism, will issue a project of Medical Tourism and Wellness Policy for the country on June 21 to streamline the niche travel segment so that tourists are not defrauded on such trips.
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