India wants to promote Medical Tourism, Wellness Tourism and Yoga, Ayurveda Tourism and any other format of Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH).
A National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board has been constituted to govern and promote this segment of tourism in an organized manner. It has representatives from AYUSH, Quality Council of India, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH).
The Government of India has Medical Visa and Medical Attendant Visa as separate categories of Visa to facilitate entry of medical tourists 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 171,021, 236,898, and 184,298 respectively. In 2015, India became the top destination for Russians seeking medical treatment. Chennai, Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh and the National Capital Region received the highest number of foreign patients.
