Medical Tourism to India
Medical Tourism to India has grown into a reliable option for international patients seeking high-quality care at significantly lower cost. From routine dental work and cosmetic procedures to complex cardiac operations and joint replacements, hospitals across India offer a wide range of treatments and services tailored to overseas patients.
Many medical tourists choose India because treatment prices are often far lower than in Western countries — studies and industry reports commonly cite cost savings in the tens of percent range for comparable procedures — while hospitals maintain rigorous protocols, modern facilities, and experienced doctors who frequently train or collaborate with Western institutions.
This guide explains what to expect when planning care in India: which hospitals and specialties serve international patients, typical costs and savings, travel and visa considerations, and practical tips to protect your health and experience. Whether you’re researching a heart surgery or a knee replacement, or arranging follow-up care at home, this overview will help you compare options and prepare for the trip.
The Healthcare System in India
Cost is a major draw for medical tourism, but quality and safety keep international patients returning to India. Leading hospitals and private medical centers in major cities offer modern medical facilities, internationally standardized protocols, and many doctors who have trained or collaborated with Western institutions. When you choose an accredited hospital, you can expect clinical governance, infection-control procedures, and patient-safety systems similar to those used in top hospitals abroad — without compromising on affordability.
Accreditation standards are controlled locally by the Indian Healthcare Federation, the Indian Medical Tourism Council and the Indian Ministry of Health. Accreditation of hospitals and other healthcare facilities are handled locally by the NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers), which is the constituent board of the QCIN (Quality Council of India). Some hospitals also have international accreditation by the Joint Commission International, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the British Standards Institute, or are affiliated with healthcare organizations and insurance companies in the US and the West.
What this means for patients: NABH and JCI accreditation indicate that a hospital follows documented clinical protocols, uses standardized infection-prevention practices, and maintains a system for reporting adverse events. In practice, accredited hospitals (for example, many Apollo and Fortis centers) maintain international-style patient pathways — from pre-op assessment through surgery and discharge — and usually offer an international patient services team to coordinate travel, accommodation, and follow-up care.
Practical tip: when you contact a hospital, request copies of accreditation certificates and the operating surgeon’s CV, ask about post-op care and local follow-up, and confirm what the quoted package includes (surgeon, anesthetist, implant/device costs, diagnostics, and length of stay).
Top Hospitals in India for Medical Tourism
Understanding Medical Tourism to India
More than half of international patients who travel to India for treatment choose private, full-service hospital groups that offer end-to-end packages — from pre-op teleconsultations and visa support to surgery, rehabilitation and discharge coordination. These top hospitals combine clinical care with dedicated international patient teams and concierge-style services to simplify travel and recovery.
- Apollo Hospitals
- One of Asia’s largest healthcare groups, Apollo operates major tertiary centers (Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Punjab, Kolkata). Strengths: cardiac care, orthopedics and multi-specialty services; many Apollo centers hold international accreditations and partner with institutions such as Johns Hopkins for training and quality programs. Contact their international patient team for package options and surgeon credentials.
- Fortis Hospitals
- Fortis runs multiple hospitals across New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. These hospitals are known for cardiac surgery, oncology and orthopedics; several Fortis facilities maintain JCI or NABH accreditation. When evaluating Fortis locations, ask which centers have the specific specialty team and JCI/NABH certificates.
- Columbia Asia Hospitals
- A regional healthcare group with a presence in India and other Asian countries. The Columbia Asia Referral Hospital in Bangalore is accredited by NABH and offers streamlined services for international patients, particularly in orthopedics and general surgery.
- Wockhardt Hospitals
- Wockhardt operates in select cities including Bangalore and Mumbai and has emphasized specialty programs in cardiac and transplant care. The group has historically engaged with international partners (for example, Harvard Medical International collaborations) and works with some foreign insurers; verify current affiliations and international-patient services for coverage and package details.
- Browse our list of hospitals in India >>.
How to pick a hospital
- Check accreditation (NABH, JCI) and confirm the certificate with the hospital’s international patient office.
- Ask for the operating surgeon’s CV and case volumes for your specific procedure.
- Request a detailed, itemized quote that lists surgeon fees, implant/device costs, diagnostics, and expected length of stay.
- Confirm post-op follow-up plans and whether a local physician at home can connect for continuity of care.
Practical note: international patients often choose hospitals based on the specialty team (cardiac centers for heart surgery, orthopedics for joint replacements). Contact hospital international-patient departments directly to compare services, packages and timelines so you can select the option that best fits your clinical needs and travel plans.
Common Procedures done in India by Medical Tourists
Hospitals and clinics across India offer a broad range of treatments and procedures for international patients. Below are the most commonly sought services, with a one-line practical note for each—typical recovery or stay and the kinds of patients who most often travel for these procedures.
- Orthopedic Surgery (hip replacement, knee replacement, etc) — Joint replacements and arthroscopic procedures are a major draw; typical hospital stay is 2–5 days and many patients plan a 2–6 week stay for early rehab and follow-up. Cities known for orthopedics: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi.
- Cardiology and Cardiothoracic surgery — Includes angioplasty, bypass and valve procedures; patients typically stay 5–10 days post-op depending on procedure complexity. India has established cardiac centers with experienced surgical teams.
- Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery (face, breast, body contouring) — Many medical tourists travel for cost-effective cosmetic procedures; outpatient to short-stay operations are common and recommended follow-up ranges from days to weeks depending on the surgery.
- Dental Services (surgery, implants, whitening) — Dental tourism is popular for implants and restorative work; expect staged visits for implants (placement then healing then prosthesis) and short in-country stays per stage.
- Bariatric/Obesity Surgeries — Procedures such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy require inpatient stays (2–4 days) and longer-term dietary follow-up; many patients combine surgery with supervised lifestyle programs.
- Cancer and Oncology — India offers a range of oncology services from chemo- and radiotherapy to complex surgical oncology; treatment plans and length of stay vary widely—discuss timelines with the oncology team before travel.
- Eye / Ophthalmology (LASIK, cataract, vitreoretinal surgery) — Many eye procedures are same-day or short-stay; cataract patients often return home within 1–3 days with planned follow-up visits.
- Neurosurgery — Complex neurosurgical care is available in major tertiary centers; recovery and inpatient time depend on the operation and individual factors.
- General Surgery — Laparoscopic procedures and general surgical services are widely available; many are day-case or short-stay surgeries.
- Bone Marrow Transplant — Specialized centers perform transplant procedures with extended inpatient and outpatient follow-up; these treatments require careful pre-planning and longer in-country stays.
- Nephrology and Kidney Transplant — Renal services include dialysis and transplant programs; transplant patients should plan multi-week stays and coordinated follow-up.
Choosing the right treatment option: specific hospitals and teams tend to specialize (for instance, some centers are known for cardiac surgery while others focus on orthopedics). Before you travel, request a specialist teleconsult, an itemized treatment plan and a realistic recovery timeline from the hospital’s international patient team. These steps help ensure your procedure, post-op care and travel arrangements match your clinical needs and home-based follow-up plan.
Cost of Medical Treatment in India
Many prospective international patients choose India because treatment costs are often substantially lower than in the US or UK. The tables below (original sources linked) show representative price ranges and average savings; note that quoted ranges vary by hospital, surgeon, implant/device choice and whether post-op care or complications are included. Always request an itemized quote from the hospital to confirm what is — and is not — included in the package.
- How to interpret these figuresTypical inclusions: surgeon and anesthetist fees, hospital stay (ward/ICU if needed), routine tests and basic medications. Implant or prosthesis costs (for joint replacements, heart valves, dental implants) may be extra — ask for itemized breakdowns.
- Typical exclusions: international flights, accommodation for companions, private nursing, extended rehabilitation, and repatriation insurance.
- Practical tip: compare total landed cost (procedure + 1–2 weeks accommodation + flights + local transport + follow-up) rather than procedure price alone.
| Price Comparison with the US [source] | Medical Procedures | ||
| Procedure | US Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Angioplasty | $55,000 – $57,000 | $10,000 – $12,000 | 78% – 81% |
| Spinal Fusion | $60,000 – $62,000 | $7,000 – $8,000 | 85% – 88% |
| Heart Bypass | $120,000 – $130,000 | $9,000 – $11,000 | 91% – 95% |
| Heart-valve Replacement | $150,000 – $160,000 | $9,000 – $10,000 | 94% – 96% |
| Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass | $28,000 – $30,000 | $10,000 – $12,000 | 60% – 64% |
| Hip Replacement | $41,000 – $43,000 | $8,000 – $10,000 | 76% – 80% |
| Mastectomy | $39,000 – $41,000 | $7,000 – $8,000 | 80% – 82% |
| Knee Replacement | $38,000 – $40,000 | $8,000 – $9,000 | 87% – 88% |
| Bone Marrow Transplant | $240,000 – $260,000 | $68,000 – $70,000 | 72% – 73% |
| Liver Transplant | $290,000 – $310,000 | $68,000 – $70,000 | 75% – 77% |
| Price Comparison with the UK [source] | Medical Procedures | ||
| Procedure | UK Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Coronary Angioplasty | $13,000 – $15,000 | $10,000 – $12,000 | 20% – 23% |
| Hip Replacement | $13,500 – $14,500 | $8,000 – $10,000 | 31% – 40$ |
| Knee Replacement | $16,000 – $17,000 | $8,000 – $9,000 | 47% – 50% |
| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery | |||
| Procedure | UK Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Face Lift (rhytidectomy) | $11,000 – $12,000 | $4,000 – $5,000 | 65% – 75% |
| Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty) | $7,000 – $8,000 | $3,000 – $4,500 | 50% – 60% |
| Breast Reduction | $8,000 – $9,000 | $2,000 – $3,000 | 67% – 75% |
| Liposuction (lipoplasty) | $5,000 – $6,000 | $2,000 – $3,500 | 42% – 60% |
| Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) | $5,500 – $6,500 | $1,500 – $2,500 | 61% – 73% |
| General and Cosmetic Dentistry | |||
| Procedure | UK Hospitals | India | Average Savings |
| Root Canal (per canal) | $300 – $400 | $100 – $150 | 62% – 67% |
| Dental Implants | $3,000 – $4,000 | $500 – $800 | 80% – 83% |
Worked example — Knee replacement (estimate)Procedure cost (India): $8,000–$9,000. Add round-trip flights for one person (~$1,000–$1,500 depending on origin), accommodation for patient + companion for 2–3 weeks (~$1,000–$2,000 depending on hotel standard), local transport and meals (~$300–$500), and contingency for additional tests or a longer stay (~$500–$1,000). Estimated total landed cost: $10,800–$14,000. By contrast, an equivalent knee replacement in the US commonly reaches $38,000–$40,000 before additional travel-related costs.
- Action items before you bookRequest an itemized quote and confirm whether implants/prostheses are included; if not, ask for model and price.
- Confirm length of hospital stay and recommended time in-country for post-op follow-up and initial rehab.
- Ask about surgeon volume and infection rates if available; request references or anonymized outcome statistics when possible.
- Consider the full package (treatment + accommodation + travel + insurance + follow-up) when comparing options.
If you’d like, we can convert these tables into a mobile-friendly comparison or update the figures to the most recent market surveys — tell us which procedures you want refreshed and we will check sources and update the numbers.
Malpractice and Liability Laws in India
Doctors and hospitals in India are legally accountable for clinical care, but the medico-legal environment differs from many Western systems. Malpractice claims have historically been heard in consumer courts and civil courts; awards and remedies are generally limited to documented medical damage and vary by case. (See local analysis: malpractice cases.)
What international patients should know
- Legal recourse can be slower and different in scope compared with some Western jurisdictions — awards typically compensate actual medical damage rather than punitive damages.
- Not every facility has the same malpractice coverage; small clinics may have limited liability insurance compared with large, accredited hospitals.
- Documentation matters: keep all medical records, consent forms, invoices and discharge summaries to support any claim or follow-up care at home.
Risk-reduction checklist for patients
- Ask the hospital for details of its liability/medical indemnity insurance and whether the surgeon carries professional indemnity.
- Request the operating doctor’s credentials, board certifications and recent case volumes for your procedure.
- Obtain a second opinion when feasible and document pre-op assessments and informed consent.
- Arrange specialized medical travel insurance that covers complications, extended stays, and medical evacuation/repatriation if needed.
Practical tip: for major surgeries, prefer accredited hospitals with a dedicated international patient services team — these hospitals typically have clearer policies, better documentation systems, and established processes for coordinating care and resolving issues. If you want, we can list recommended insurance providers and sample questions to send to hospitals when you request quotes.
Pros
Low costs
- Significantly lower procedure prices are a core benefit — for many surgeries patients can save tens of thousands of dollars compared with Western hospitals. Lower costs reduce out-of-pocket spending and make complex treatments accessible to medical tourists who otherwise could not afford care at home.
Quality care at top hospitals
- Leading private hospitals maintain high standards of clinical care, diagnostics and infection-control, with many centers holding NABH or JCI accreditation. These hospitals typically have multidisciplinary teams and specialized units for cardiac, orthopedic and oncology care.
English-speaking staff
- Most international patient departments, physicians and nursing staff speak English, which simplifies pre-op consultations, informed consent and discharge instructions for many foreign patients.
Shorter waiting times
- Compared with many public systems, private hospitals often offer quicker scheduling for consultations and elective surgeries — a practical advantage for patients who need timely treatment. Ask the international patient team about expected wait times for your specific procedure.
Cons
Variable accreditation
- While leading hospitals are NABH- or JCI-accredited, many smaller clinics and local facilities lack formal accreditation. That variability increases risk for medical tourists who select providers without verifying standards.
- Risk mitigation: Always ask for the hospital’s accreditation certificate (NABH/JCI), request details of the international patient services team, and prefer accredited centers for major surgeries to ensure consistent medical facilities and staff protocols.
Malpractice and liability differences
- Legal processes and compensation for medical errors in India can differ from those in Western countries; remedies are typically focused on documented medical damage and procedures vary by jurisdiction.
- Risk mitigation: Follow the checklist in the liability section: obtain complete medical records, confirm surgeon credentials, and purchase medical travel insurance that covers complications and potential repatriation.
Surrounding infrastructure
- Outside hospital campuses, local infrastructure (transport, sanitation, emergency response) may not match Western expectations — an important consideration for tourists planning recovery and mobility after discharge.
- Risk mitigation: Arrange reputable accommodation close to the hospital, request hospital-arranged transport, and avoid wandering into unfamiliar areas during early recovery. Confirm emergency contact protocols with the hospital’s international-patient team.
Cultural differences
- Cultural norms, language nuances and local practices may come as a surprise to some visitors and can affect expectations around food, visiting hours and bedside etiquette.
- Risk mitigation: Prepare by reading brief cultural tips, communicate preferences to hospital staff ahead of arrival (diet, visiting), and bring a companion if you prefer assistance with language or local navigation. These steps help maintain your comfort without compromising care.
Traveling to India
Average estimated travel time in hours (typical total itinerary — check your specific flights)
When planning travel for medical treatment, allow extra time: plan to arrive 2–4 days before surgery for pre-op consultations and testing, and expect to stay in-country for at least 1–3 weeks after most major procedures for early recovery and follow-up. Contact the hospital’s international patient services team to coordinate airport pickup, accommodation and local transport.
| From/To | India |
| New York City | 16 |
| Los Angeles | 18 |
| Dallas | 18 |
| London | 7 |
| Paris | 10 |
| Barcelona | 9.5 |
| Madrid | 10.5 |
| Mexico City | 19 |
| Bogota | 19 |
| Panama City | 19 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 17 |
| Buenos Aires | 18 |
- Packing and accommodation tipsPack a 2–3 week supply of any daily medications (in original labeled containers) and bring a printed list of dosages and your regular doctor’s contact information.
- Choose accommodation near the hospital—many hospitals offer partner hotels or serviced apartments; this reduces travel time and makes post-op care easier.
- Bring comfortable, loose clothing, any assistive devices (walking stick, braces) you normally use, and copies of consent forms and pre-op instructions.
Practical advice for international patients: coordinate with the hospital’s international patient services for airport transfer, local SIM cards, and recommended accommodation; confirm whether escorts can stay on-site; and verify follow-up plans so you can continue care at home. For visa details and length-of-stay guidance see the Entry and Exit Requirements section below.
Entry and Exit Requirements to India
Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter India (exceptions include certain neighboring countries). India also operates e‑visa systems and dedicated medical visa categories — check current eligibility and application details well before you travel.
Typical requirements for a medical visa or e‑visa include: a passport valid for the required period (check the latest passport-validity rule for your country), the applicable visa fee, passport-size photographs and a completed application. For medical visas, hospitals usually provide an invitation or appointment letter; that document — plus a brief medical referral and estimated treatment timeline — is commonly required to justify the length of stay. Medical visas are often issued as multiple-entry for six months to one year depending on case specifics and nationality.
Practical checklist for patients: request an official appointment/estimate letter from your chosen hospital’s international patients office, verify current passport-validity and visa fees with the Indian immigration website, and allow extra time for processing. For authoritative, up-to-date information visit Indian Bureau of Immigration or contact the Indian consulate in your country. Also ask your hospital’s international patient team to supply any documents needed for the visa application and to confirm suggested length of stay for your treatment and recovery.
Statistics for Medical Tourism in India
India’s medical tourism sector has grown substantially over the past decade driven by competitive costs, a wide range of services and the expansion of accredited hospitals serving international patients. Historical projections cited industry estimates that, by 2015, the sector could reach roughly two billion U.S. dollars and attract millions of visitors; however, figures and growth rates vary by source and year, so always check the latest official data for current totals. The industry continues to focus on partnerships with airlines, insurers and regional healthcare networks to improve travel and coordination for overseas patients.
- Key stats (what to verify when you update)Number of international patients per year — many published figures are projections or include different visitor categories (medical tourists vs. wellness travellers), so confirm the exact definition used by the source.
- Estimated market value / revenue for medical tourism in the most recent year available — verify whether figures are in USD and whether they include indirect travel-related revenue.
- Top source markets (e.g., Gulf countries, Africa, South-East Asia, Europe) — confirm the most recent sending countries and their share.
- Common procedures in demand and percentage split (orthopedics, cardiology, oncology, dental, cosmetic) — these trend annually based on demand and capacity.
- Trends to watchInsurance and payer partnerships: increased collaboration between Indian hospitals and foreign insurers has expanded access for some international patients and introduced packaged-care options.
- Specialization: many top hospitals are building centers of excellence in cardiac care, orthopedics and oncology to attract patients seeking those procedures.
- Travel facilitation: airline and travel partnerships aimed at medical tourists (special fares, dedicated medical travel desks) are increasingly common and can influence destination choice.
If you need current, sourced statistics for a particular year or market (for example: 2022 or 2023 arrivals, revenue, or top source countries), I can update this section with the latest official data from the Ministry of Tourism, industry reports and hospital disclosures. That update can include a concise “At a glance” box with verified numbers and citations.