India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target, Five Point Action Plan

India is positioning medical value tourism as a major healthcare and economic opportunity. The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, Piyush Goyal announced the annual India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target while outlining measures to strengthen India’s global healthcare ecosystem. He highlighted India’s clinical capabilities, advanced technology and healthcare costs that are 60-80% lower than developed countries.

India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target Latest News

On September 7th 2026, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India should target 10 million international medical value tourists annually. He made the statement during the inaugural ceremony of Sanjeevani 2026 at Bharat Health Global Expo 2026 in New Delhi. India has already served 3.5 million international patients over seven years, creating a base for further expansion.

India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target

India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target focuses on quality, affordability, patient trust, skilled manpower and wider international access to Indian healthcare services. The key highlighted points of the target announced include:

• Indian healthcare costs are estimated to be 60-80% lower than in developed countries, strengthening India’s competitiveness as a medical tourism destination.
• Foreign patients should receive treatment only at National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) accredited, verified and panelled hospitals.
• India needs trained and certified caregivers who can provide services according to international standards and improve the overall patient experience.
• Pharmaceuticals, medtech, diagnostics, hospitals, doctors, nurses, technicians, caregivers, Ayurveda, Yoga and Unani together strengthen India’s medical value tourism capacity.

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Five Points Action Plan for India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target

Piyush Goyal proposed a Five Point Action Plan for Medical Value Tourism covering workforce development, hospital participation, patient services, global promotion and state level expansion.

1. Train Caregivers: India should train and certify caregivers to build a skilled workforce capable of delivering healthcare services that meet international expectations and standards.
2. Expand Heal in India Initiative: More hospitals should join the Heal in India gateway and provide transparent treatment packages while maintaining ethical practices and protecting India’s credibility.
3. Seamless Patient Journey: Insurers and health tech companies should support cashless payments, timely reimbursements, teleconsultation and telemedicine before and during international patients’ treatment journeys.
4. Global Promotion: India should conduct international exhibitions, establish healthcare facilitators and create hospital tie ups while directing foreign patients towards NABH accredited and verified facilities.
5. State Level Expansion: States should improve hospitals and wellness centres, build networks and promote quality facilities globally while extending medical value tourism beyond metropolitan cities.

Need for India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target

India faces an opportunity created by rising healthcare costs, ageing populations, long waiting periods and shortages of specialised healthcare services in several countries.

• Global Healthcare Demand: Ageing populations and growing healthcare needs are increasing international demand for quality treatment, tertiary care, pharmaceuticals and trained healthcare professionals.
• Economic Growth: Medical value tourism can create employment and business opportunities across hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical equipment, diagnostics, healthcare services and related infrastructure.
• International Goodwill: Ethical and patient centred healthcare can strengthen India’s international reputation while reflecting the principle of “Atithi Devo Bhava”.
• Healthcare Infrastructure: Expanding medical value tourism to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities can improve healthcare facilities, generate local employment and widen access to quality services.
• Patient Trust: International patients need clarity, dignity, compassion and integrity because travelling abroad for treatment involves financial, medical and emotional uncertainty.

India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target Significance

India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target can combine healthcare, employment, manufacturing and international cooperation while ensuring that domestic patients receive the same quality of treatment.

• Employment Creation: Expansion can generate jobs for doctors, nurses, technicians, caregivers, teachers and professionals across pharmaceutical, medical equipment and hospital sectors.
• Global Healthcare Gateway: India can strengthen its position as a gateway for international health and wellness services by combining clinical excellence, technology, affordability and traditional healthcare systems.
• Equal Healthcare: Medical tourism expansion should not create separate quality standards for foreign patients. India must ensure comparable healthcare quality for Indians and international visitors.
• COVID 19 Experience: During COVID 19, India supplied medicines and equipment to over 100 countries and provided essential supplies to several countries free of charge or at cost.
• Quality and Integrity: The success of India’s 10 Million Medical Tourism Target depends on transparent pricing, professional certification, ethical treatment, zero tolerance for corruption and patient centric healthcare.