Travelling to a different country for medical assistance is one of the latest trends. Many medical travellers move to a foreign country for cosmetic surgery, dental treatments, fertility problems, and several other issues. In most industrialised nations, the healthcare cost is high, while India has many affordable treatment options. So, Medical Tourism in India is currently one of the fastest-growing industries. Besides, technological improvements and better industry standards have drawn the attention of a lot of medical tourists from other nations.
According to the latest report, the medical tourism sector in India reached a value of $7417 million in 2022. Market analysts think that it will cross $42237 million by 2032. As per the analysis, the demand for wellness tourism in India is growing at a rapid pace.
However, what are the new trends in medical tourism?
The majority of patients who prefer medical travel are baby boomers. They are travelling to India to get commercial surrogacy and IVF treatments. It is to be noted that many Western countries have banned these things. Especially IVF therapies are popular in metropolitan cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
In assisted reproduction centres of Mumbai, medical tourists can avail of various services like IUI, embryo transfer, 3D sonography, sperm injection, embryo donation, laser-assisted hatching, and embryo cryopreservation.
More than 20% of embryos transferred to the womb in India result in a successful birth. However, researchers think it would reach 78% if the best embryos were chosen.
Several Asian countries have taken steps to flourish businesses in the medical tourism sector. Currently, India has grabbed a leading position in this market in Asia. Well-trained physicians and advanced infrastructure have made medical tourism companies in India more profitable. Many other countries in the world have also thought of earning more revenues from this sector.
According to the latest medical tourism trends, countries like South Africa and Egypt are in a strong position with their international tourism services. Other popular destinations for medical or wellness tourism include Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, and Chile.
Healthcare costs are rising rapidly in several Western countries. It has led to the growing trend of wellness tourism. That is why patients and their families think of moving to various developing nations like India, Thailand, Costa Rica, and Singapore. Many medical tourists come from countries like New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA.
Many Asian countries, including India, have modernised their medical treatments. Their medical services are also more affordable compared to that of the Western nations. So, lots of medical tourists flock to these countries. Western tourists in India benefit from diversified medical therapies provided by prominent hospitals. Although they need to bear the travel costs, they found the overall trip and medical treatment cost-effective.
Bangkok, Chennai, Sao Paolo, and Kuala Lumpur are popular destinations where medical travellers visit for healthcare services. If you consider the private health centres in India, the most common names are Apollo, Fortis, Escorts Hospital, Breach Candy, Manipal Hospitals, and ShankaraNethralaya.
Most private hospitals provide comprehensive services under a single roof. The peaceful and welcoming atmosphere is another factor attracting lots of patients from different countries. With several wellness tourism destinations in India, the country has gained traction in Southeast Asia.
These one-stop centers in major international markets promote patient flow. Indian Health Care Federation would like to set up an Indian healthcare brand that symbolises safety and trust.
From the medical tourism perspective, healthcare is referred to as a process of travelling abroad. While some tourists need cosmetic surgeries, others desire lifesaving treatments (like cardiac operations and organ transplants). Other sought-after treatments include bariatric processes, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentations.
Several cities all over the world earn high revenues from the medical tourism sector. Most tourists are from countries where healthcare services are very costly. Although their desired treatments are available in their home countries, they prefer an international solution.
For instance, many people have travelled abroad to undergo angioplasty surgeries, dermabrasion, bariatric surgeries, and other therapies.
Another reason behind medical travel is disease prevention. Lots of medical tourists in India take sterility and fertility tests at a very low cost. Even cochlear implants, hearing aids, and several other things are available at a reasonable price.
So, these are some trends in the healthcare tourism industry. Collaborative opportunities will draw more medical tourists to India. The essence of collaboration and co-existence is not simply about providing value. But, it is also about creating a proper environment to drive consumer traffic in the healthcare tourism sector in India. A perfect business model for wellness tourism should detect relevant stakeholders and involve them in the value chain. It will lead to a higher market size.
Dania Medicare Solutions is a reliable medical tourism company in India. It provides comprehensive services to medical tourists. From patient accommodation to health treatment, everything is handled by the dedicated team. You will also get medical opinions and an estimate for healthcare services. The team has taken the responsibility of sending the patients’ documents to the doctor. You can visit the website to learn about the real stories of several patients who have approached Dania for medical services.
Written by
Shafiq Ahmad Khan
Founder & CEO
Dania Medicare Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
