Question 1

What is medical tourism in India?

Accepted Answer

Medical tourism in India refers to the journey undertaken to India from abroad to access medical services. India is among the most preferred destination countries for medical tourism worldwide, hosting more than 700,000 foreigners every year seeking medical services (Ministry of Tourism 2023). The top reasons why foreign patients travel to India for medical services include: NABH/JCI- accredited hospitals, medical practitioners skilled internationally, prices between 60-80% cheaper than in the UK/USA/UAE, no waitlists, and English-speaking staff.

Question 2

Is medical tourism legal in India?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Medical tourism is legal, regulated, and encouraged by the government of India through its ‘Heal in India’ program under the Ministry of Tourism. India provides specialized Medical Visa (MED) and Medical Attendant Visa (MED-X) to patients from abroad. Only those hospitals that treat foreign patients should be licensed hospitals, while NABH and JCI accreditation ensure the quality of care.

Question 3

Which city in India is best for medical treatment?

Accepted Answer

Delhi NCR (Noida, Gurgaon, New Delhi) and Chennai are India’s two primary medical tourism hubs, offering the highest concentration of JCI-accredited hospitals for international patients. Delhi NCR is preferred for cardiac surgery, complex orthopaedics, neurology, and transplants. Chennai leads in organ transplants, IVF, and oncology. Both cities have direct international flight connections from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Question 4

Which state in India has the most medical tourism?

Accepted Answer

Tamil Nadu, with Chennai as its capital city, stands first in terms of the number of tourists visiting for healthcare purposes, owing to the presence of Apollo Hospitals Chennai and its facilities for international patients. The second most significant destination is the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), consisting of Delhi along with parts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states.

Question 5

Which hospital is ranked number 1 in India for international patients?

Accepted Answer

Rankings vary by specialty. Apollo Hospitals Chennai is consistently rated among India’s top hospitals for international patients — it holds JCI certification and served patients from over 120 countries in 2024. Medanta Gurgaon is consistently ranked among India’s top multispecialty hospitals and holds both JCI and NABH certification. For specific rankings, the NABH accreditation database and JCI International Directory are the most authoritative references. Divinheal matches patients to the right hospital for their specific diagnosis rather than a single ‘number one’ ranking.

Question 6

How do treatment costs in India compare to the UK, UAE, and USA?

Accepted Answer

India’s treatment costs are typically 60–80% lower than private healthcare in the UK, UAE, or USA for most major procedures. A knee replacement that costs £10,000–£19,000 in the UK or AED 70,000–120,000 in Dubai costs ₹1,50,000–₹5,50,000 (£1,200–£4,200; AED 5,800–21,527) in India. A heart bypass that costs £15,000–£35,000 in the UK costs ₹2,50,000–₹5,00,000 (£1,940–£3,878) in India. Quality at JCI-accredited partner hospitals is checked every year and is comparable to international standards.

Question 7

What are the top 5 hospitals in India for international patients?

Accepted Answer

Among Divinheal’s partner network: (1) Apollo Hospitals Chennai — JCI-accredited, India’s largest private hospital group, transplants and oncology; (2) Medanta Gurgaon — JCI-accredited, multispecialty excellence; (3) Artemis Gurgaon — JCI-accredited, robotic surgery leader; (4) Fortis Noida — NABH-accredited, high-volume orthopaedics and transplants; (5) MAX Hospitals — NABH-accredited, extensive Delhi NCR network. Beyond the partner network, AIIMS Delhi (public, no international patient department but exceptional for complex cases) and Tata Memorial Mumbai (oncology) are nationally ranked.

Question 8

Why do patients from Africa and the Middle East choose India?

Accepted Answer

African patients choose India mainly for procedures not available locally (organ transplants, complex heart surgery, advanced cancer treatment) and for the cost advantage over the USA or European options. Middle Eastern patients choose India when insurance does not cover a procedure, when seeking second opinions from high-volume specialists, or when a specific technique (robotic joint replacement, HIFU, HIPEC) is not available at sufficient volumes locally. India’s proximity — 3–10 hours by air, depending on source city — and established cultural familiarity (many Indian doctors trained in the Gulf region) are additional factors.

Question 9

What medical visa requirements apply to international patients?

Accepted Answer

India’s Medical Visa (MED) requires: a valid passport (minimum 6 months validity), a letter from a recognised Indian hospital confirming treatment need and duration, financial proof, and a completed online application via indianvisaonline.gov.in or through the Indian High Commission. Processing takes 3–7 business days for online applications (most nationalities). Divinheal provides the hospital invitation letter — the key document — as standard for all patients. A Medical Attendant Visa (MED-X) is available for up to two family companions.

Question 10

How does Divinheal assist international patients planning medical travel to India?

Accepted Answer

Divinheal offers: pre-trip consultation of your case by a specialist physician via video call; hospital and specialist matching according to the nature of the illness and your budget; quote of costs in your currency before commitment; invitation for Indian Medical Visa; lodging close to the hospital; airport transportation; a patient coordinator reachable through WhatsApp; coordination of language and culture; telemedicine follow-up upon returning to your country; and a discharge note for your local physician. There is no placement fee. All partner hospitals offer rates directly to the patients.

Question 11

How does Divinheal ensure affordable and high-quality care?

Accepted Answer

Divinheal partners only with NABH/JCI-accredited hospitals — checked every year for patient safety, surgical standards, infection control, and clinical outcomes. Partner hospital rates are direct patient pricing without markup. Divinheal provides written itemised cost estimates before any patient commitment, so there are no hidden costs. Quality is verified through accreditation, not through cost — a lower-priced Indian hospital does not mean lower quality when it holds the same JCI certification as top international facilities.

Question 12

What post-treatment support does Divinheal provide?

Accepted Answer

Post-discharge assistance involves: discharge summary and post-operative instructions in English for the referring physician back home; medication advice for travel purposes; telemedicine consultation with the treating doctor in India after 2-3 weeks of discharge; and continuous availability through WhatsApp for any assistance after discharge. In case of longer surgeries (transplants or oncology), coordination is maintained until the end of the entire follow-up period.

Medical Tourism in India 2026: Best Hospitals, Top Cities & Complete Guide

Medical Tourism in India 2026: Best Hospitals, Top Cities & Complete Guide

Booking With DIVINHEAL

Doctors for this treatment

Dodul Mondal

Dr. Amitabh Goel

Dr. Amol Patil

Dr. Ankit Goel

Dr. Anupam Bhargava

Dr Anurag Jain

Dr Anusheel Munshi

Dr. Ashish Gupta

Dr. Atul Bhasin

Dr. Bharat Aggarwal

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Hospitals Offering this treatment

Hisar Intercontinental Hospital

Saray Mah. Siteyolu Cad. No:7, Umraniye, 34768, Istanbul, Turkey

Medical Park Group, Istanbul

Fahrettin Kerim Gokay Cad. Tıbbiye Cd., Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey

Emsey Hospital, Pendik, Istanbul

Çamlık, Selçuklu Cd. No:22, 34912 Pendik/İstanbul, Türkiye

LIV Hospital, Istanbul

American Hospital, Istanbul

Guzelbahce Sk. No:20, 34365, Nisantasi, Istanbul, Turkey

Memorial Hospitals Group

Burhaniye, Nagehan Sokağı No:4/A D:1, 34676 Üsküdar/İstanbul, Türkiye

Florence Nightingale Hospital Istanbul

Abide-i Hürriyet Cd No:166, 34381 Sisli, Istanbul

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Okan University Hospital Istanbul

Icmeler Mah. Aydınlıyolu Cd. No:2, 34947 Icmeler-Tuzla, Istanbul

Kolan International Hospital, Istanbul

Kaptanpasa Mah. Okmeydan Kavsagi, Darulaceze Cd. No:14, 34384 Sisli, Istanbul

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