India attracted over 18.11 lakh medical tourists during 2023-25, government tells Parliament – Firstpost

India welcomed more than 18.11 lakh foreign nationals on medical tourism-related visas between January 2023 and December 2025, underscoring the country’s growing position as a global healthcare destination, the government informed Parliament on Friday.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said medical tourism is a rapidly expanding sector with significant global potential and is being supported through coordinated initiatives involving multiple ministries, industry bodies and private healthcare providers.

According to data shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 18,11,950 foreign nationals visited India on medical tourism-related visas during the three-year period. The total included 17,51,088 Medical Visa and e-Medical Visa holders, 56,908 Medical Attendant Visa holders, 3,375 AYUSH Visa holders, and 579 AYUSH Attendant Visa holders.

The government said the Ministry of Tourism leads efforts to promote medical and wellness tourism, while the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare supports the sector through stakeholder consultations and coordination with organisations such as NATHEALTH, FICCI, and the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC).

To improve ease of travel for international patients, the Centre has extended the validity of the e-Medical visa from 60 days to one year, increased the number of permitted entries from three to multiple, and expanded the facility to nationals of 176 countries.

The government also highlighted that the e-Visa framework now includes dedicated e-AYUSH (M3) and e-AYUSH Attendant (M4) visa categories to promote India’s traditional systems of medicine. Emergency visa processing for medical cases is available through Indian missions abroad, with embassies and consulates maintaining dedicated helpline services for eligible applicants.