India Eyes Global health Tourism Lead with Visa-on-arrival

India’s ambition to become a global hub for world-class healthcare received a strong push as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that a visa-on-arrival for medical travellers could significantly enhance the country’s fast-growing health tourism sector.

Speaking at the 22nd CII Annual Health Summit in New Delhi, themed “Adding Life to Years in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” Goyal said the move would make medical travel to India easier and more attractive while ensuring that citizens continue to benefit from improved healthcare services.

Transforming India into a global medical hub

Highlighting India’s rising reputation as a trusted medical destination, Goyal said, “Visa-on-arrival for medical travellers will remove major barriers and help India emerge as a global leader in healthcare delivery.” He emphasized that this step would position India as a benchmark for affordable, quality medical care, supported by strong infrastructure, skilled professionals, and innovation-led growth.

He added that India’s healthcare ecosystem is witnessing rapid transformation, with the number of medical colleges doubling in the past decade and a significant expansion of medical seats planned over the next five years. “This reflects our determination to build a strong healthcare workforce that meets both domestic and international demand,” the Minister said.

Commitment to inclusive and affordable healthcare

Reaffirming the government’s focus on universal healthcare access, Goyal said that India is actively building a robust social security net to ensure that medical services are accessible to every citizen. He cited initiatives such as providing sanitary pads at nominal costs for underprivileged women as examples of India’s inclusive healthcare vision.

“We are working aggressively to provide affordable healthcare for all, and we welcome new ideas from the industry to improve service delivery and promote innovation,” Goyal added.

India: Strengthening nursing and allied healthcare capacity

Calling India’s youth a “global healthcare asset,” Goyal urged hospitals to play a larger role in expanding nursing education and training. “Our nurses are among the best in the world. I call upon healthcare institutions to collaborate and expand high-quality nursing capacity by at least 100,000 professionals,” he said.

He further advised hospitals to maintain a balance between domestic and international patients, ensuring that India’s citizens continue to receive timely and quality treatment even as the nation attracts global patients. Goyal noted that the visa-on-arrival for medical travellers would give a much-needed boost to the “Heal in India” initiative.

Integrating Ayurveda with modern medicine

Goyal emphasized that the success of the government’s ‘Heal in India’ campaign lies in blending modern medicine with India’s traditional systems like Ayurveda, yoga, and naturopathy. “For ‘Heal in India’ to take off, we must integrate modern medical practices with our rich traditions of holistic wellness,” he said.

Supporting this vision, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, said that Ayurveda can be the cornerstone of India’s holistic healthcare model. He urged hospitals to incorporate Ayurvedic treatments, yoga, and detoxification therapies into their service offerings to meet growing global demand. “International visitors are increasingly seeking restorative care — India can lead the world in offering that,” Kotecha added.

Industry leaders back policy shift

Industry experts at the summit echoed the Minister’s optimism. CII Health Council Chairman Dr. Naresh Trehan said that India’s healthcare sector is well-positioned to become a top global destination for medical travel, provided the country effectively addresses infrastructure and service bottlenecks.

Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, remarked that the medical tourism sector not only brings foreign patients but also creates employment opportunities and drives economic growth across allied industries such as hospitality, transportation, and wellness.

Adding a digital dimension, Pramod Alagharu of Manipal Health Enterprises proposed the creation of a unified digital portal under the Heal in India initiative. This platform, he suggested, would enable international patients to compare hospitals, treatment packages, and doctor profiles—empowering them to make informed choices with transparency and ease.