India’s medical tourism sector faces challenges due to political turmoil in Bangladesh, regional conflicts, and geopolitical tensions in several countries.

Impact of Bangladesh’s Political Crisis

The ousting of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh and the formation of an interim government in August 2024 significantly impacted India’s medical tourism inflow. The immediate consequences included:

• Border Closures and Visa Restrictions: The closure of borders between India and Bangladesh, coupled with the suspension of passenger movements, led to a sharp decline in medical tourists from Bangladesh. 
• Indefinite closing of Visa Centres: The governments of both sides have also temporarily shut down their visa centers.
• Data by CareEdge: Ongoing violence and political instability in Bangladesh have further deterred travel, leading to an 80% drop in medical tourism from the country in August 2024 alone.  
• Bangladesh’s Share of Foreign Tourists: From January to August 2024, Bangladeshi nationals accounted for 20.77% of all foreign tourist arrivals to India. However, by August, this figure had dropped to 15.59% due to the crisis. 
• Medical Tourism Share: Similarly, medical tourists, who represented 7.72% of total foreign tourists in India in the first eight months of 2024, saw their share drop to 6.85% in August. 
  • This decline is attributed to the reduced number of Bangladeshi nationals traveling for medical purposes.              

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Impact of Other Regional Challenges 

• Medical Tourists From Other Countries: Beyond Bangladesh, several other countries like Yemen, Iraq, Oman, the Maldives, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Myanmar have contributed significantly to India’s medical tourism sector.            
• Countries Affected by Conflicts: Yemen, Iraq, Sudan, and Myanmar have all been embroiled in internal or regional conflicts, which has made it difficult for people from these countries to travel for medical treatment.                                                                                                 
• Political Tensions with the Maldives: Diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives have not been at their best since Mohamed Muizzu took over as president in November 2023, affecting medical tourism flows from the island nation.                                                                                                                                               

Factors Driving Medical Tourism in India

• Top Medical Institutions: Hospitals like Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, Max Healthcare, and CMC Vellore have been among the leading destinations for international patients seeking advanced medical care in India.
• Affordable Healthcare: A bypass surgery in the US could cost up to $100,000, while the same procedure in India could be completed for around $5,000, making India an attractive destination for cost-conscious patients.
• Alternative Therapies: The availability of alternative therapies like Ayurveda, yoga, homeopathy, and Siddha, made India a sought-after destination for medical tourists.
  • For Instance: High-profile visitors, such as King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who visited the Soukya International Holistic Health Centre in Bengaluru, highlighted the growing interest in alternative therapies in India.
• Growing Inflows: In 2023, India attracted an estimated 6.1 million medical tourists, according to Crisil, further underscoring the sector’s potential.             

Way Forward

There is a need for strategic overhauling of India’s medical tourism policies and a rethinking of the National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism formulated by the Ministry of Tourism in 2022.

• Diversifying Source Countries: India must look beyond less-developed economies for medical tourists.
  • Tourist from Developed Nations: In 2022, only 1.4% of medical tourists came from developed countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland.  
    • These countries have long waiting lists for medical procedures, making them ideal candidates for India’s medical tourism offerings.
  • Steps to be Taken: A focused marketing campaign targeting these nations could help diversify the source countries and attract higher-paying medical tourists.
• Expanding E-Visa Access: India currently offers e-visas to 170 countries, but several countries in India’s top medical tourism source list, such as Iraq, Yemen, Maldives, Sudan, and Nigeria, do not have access to this facility.
  • Need for E-Visa: Approving e-visas for these countries would provide immediate relief to the sector and facilitate smoother travel for medical tourists. 
  • E-visa To Bangladesh: Additionally, expanding e-visa access to Bangladesh, which was only formalized in June 2024, would further enhance the ease of travel.
• Regulating Unregistered Agents: The medical tourism sector is plagued by unregistered agents who often act as intermediaries between patients and hospitals, sometimes short-changing patients or providing subpar services.
  • Steps to be Taken: Strengthening oversight and regulation of these agents is crucial to protect patients and maintain the integrity of the industry.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store

Conclusion

With a robust strategy and improved infrastructure, India’s medical tourism industry can regain its momentum and continue to thrive in the coming years.

DOWNLOAD PDF