Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has unveiled a five-point action plan to strengthen India’s medical value tourism ecosystem. The initiative aims to position India as a premier hub for high-quality international health and wellness services.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of ‘Sanjeevani 2026’—held as part of the ‘Bharat Health Global Expo 2026’ in New Delhi—Goyal stated that India possesses the capacity and resources to deliver world-class healthcare services.
Training and Certification for Caregivers
Goyal emphasized that the first step should be to train and certify caregivers capable of attending to patients in accordance with international standards. He stressed the need to build a skilled and trained workforce for this purpose.
Onboarding More Hospitals to ‘Heal in India’
Under the second point, he advocated for bringing more hospitals onto the ‘Heal in India’ platform and ensuring the availability of clear, transparent information regarding treatment packages.
He urged hospitals to operate ethically and avoid any form of fraud against patients, noting that a single wrong move could damage India’s reputation, business prospects, and credibility.
Better Platforms by Insurance and Health-Tech Companies
In the third point, Goyal urged insurance and health-tech companies to develop products and platforms that streamline the entire patient journey.
He emphasized the need for timely reimbursements and the widespread availability of cashless payment facilities. He also suggested the large-scale use of teleconsultation and telemedicine during the initial stages of medical value tourism.
Promoting India’s Medical Facilities Globally
The fourth point highlighted the need to organize exhibitions and presentations in various countries, appoint facilitators, and forge global partnerships with hospitals.
He stated that patients arriving from abroad should receive treatment only at NABH-accredited, verified, and empaneled hospitals. Goyal asserted that the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) must uphold the highest quality standards without compromise. Expanding Medical Tourism to Smaller Cities
Under the fifth point, Goyal urged states to focus on quality in hospitals and wellness centers, expand their networks, and promote high-quality facilities globally.
He stated that medical value tourism should not be confined to major metropolitan cities alone. Extending it to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities would generate employment and new opportunities, foster infrastructure development, and improve healthcare facilities for Indian patients as well.
Targeting 10 Million Patients Annually
Goyal noted that approximately 3.5 million patients have benefited from India’s medical value tourism ecosystem over the past seven years. India should now aim to provide medical services to 10 million patients annually.
He affirmed that India possesses the capacity, expert doctors, technology, and the necessary ecosystem to achieve this goal.
High Demand for Indian Healthcare Professionals Abroad
Goyal mentioned that countries with which India is negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and trade deals are seeking high-quality medicines, doctors, technicians, nurses, and caregivers from India in large numbers.
He also suggested creating a pool of interpreters for patients arriving from various countries. This would instill greater confidence in patients and facilitate easier communication with the medical system in their own languages.
Equal Quality for Indian and Foreign Patients
The Union Minister emphasized that the quality of healthcare services should not differ between Indian and foreign patients.
He stated that India must ensure every Indian patient receives the same high standard of healthcare as that provided to patients arriving from abroad.
Treatment Costs 60–80% Lower
Highlighting the potential of India’s medical value tourism, Goyal noted that the country possesses excellent clinical expertise and modern technology, while offering healthcare costs that are 60 to 80 percent lower than those in many developed nations.
He also spoke of the abundance of compassion in India. He commended the efforts of medical professionals across the country—ranging from small nursing homes and private clinics to large municipal, private, and government hospitals—in caring for patients despite limited resources.
