India’s medical tourism sector is witnessing renewed momentum, with industry leaders urging the Union Budget 2026–27 to convert recent gains into a structured national expansion under the ‘Heal in India’ initiative.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, 1,31,856 foreign tourists visited India for medical purposes in 2025 up to April, accounting for nearly 4.1% of total foreign tourist arrivals during the period. Improved clinical outcomes, international hospital accreditations, and competitive treatment costs have helped sustain inbound demand.
Ishaan Dodhiwala, Co-founder of Medijourn Solutions Private Limited, said the upcoming budget presents an opportunity to scale India’s global footprint in medical travel. He called for dedicated allocations to promote ‘Heal in India’ across priority regions such as Africa, the Middle East, SAARC nations, and other emerging markets. He also highlighted the need to simplify medical visa processes, support internationally accredited hospitals, and expand quality healthcare infrastructure into Tier II and Tier III cities.
Primary Care, Pharma Innovation Take Centre Stage
Beyond medical tourism, healthcare leaders are pressing for stronger policy focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). As per the World Health Organisation, NCDs account for 62% of all deaths in Southeast Asia, with nine million deaths annually.
Saurav Kasera, Co-founder and CEO of CLIRNET and DocTube, said Budget 2026 should prioritise early detection, chronic disease management, and community-level primary care. He also called for innovation-led incentives in pharmaceuticals, including enhanced R&D tax credits, faster regulatory pathways, and stronger public-private research collaboration.
Manufacturing, Digital Health Seek Targeted Support
Medical manufacturing players flagged persistent import dependence in segments such as nitrile gloves. K. Anindith Reddy of Wadi Surgicals Private Limited urged stricter quality controls, anti-dumping duties, and financial relief for companies that emerged during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, digital health firms are seeking focused investments in cybersecurity and AI-led care. Surjeet Thakur, Founder and CEO of TrioTree Technologies, said dedicated funding for healthcare IT security, subsidies for digital adoption in smaller cities, and rationalised tax frameworks would be critical to sustaining growth.
