Piyush Goyal Sets 10 Million Target for Medical Value Tourism

Why in News

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has set a target of 10 million medical value tourists annually for India.

Key Highlights

• Goyal said around 3.5 million patients have benefited from India's medical value tourism ecosystem over the past seven years.
• India should now aim to serve 10 million international patients every year.
• He stressed that India's growth in medical tourism should be based on quality, ethics, transparency and patient trust.
• He also called for expanding medical value tourism beyond major cities to Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

Five-Point Action Plan

1. Train Skilled Caregivers: India needs a larger pool of trained and certified caregivers who can provide healthcare services according to international standards.
2. Expand the Heal in India Gateway: More hospitals should join the Heal in India initiative and provide transparent treatment packages. Hospitals must follow ethical practices and maintain patient trust.
3. Make the Patient Journey Easier: Insurance companies and health-tech firms should provide better systems for cashless payments and timely reimbursements. Teleconsultation and telemedicine can also help patients before they travel to India.
4. Improve Global Outreach: India should promote its healthcare facilities through international exhibitions, presentations and partnerships. International patients should be directed to NABH-accredited and verified hospitals.
5. Improve Healthcare Quality Across States: States should improve the quality of hospitals and wellness centres, expand healthcare networks and make these facilities more visible globally.

India's Advantage in Medical Tourism

India has several advantages in the medical value tourism sector:

• Advanced medical technology and clinical expertise
• Skilled doctors, nurses, technicians and caregivers
• Strong pharmaceutical and medical technology (medtech) sectors
• Growing diagnostic services
• Traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Yoga and Unani
• Healthcare costs that can be 60–80% lower than in many developed countries

Focus on Equal Treatment

• Goyal stressed that the quality of healthcare should not differ between Indian and foreign patients.
• He said India should provide the same standard of treatment to every patient, regardless of their income or nationality. For international patients, factors such as dignity, transparency, ethical practices and clear communication are important throughout the treatment journey.
• He also suggested creating a pool of interpreters to help international patients who speak different languages.