India exploring medical tourism visa-on-arrival plans
A plan for the initiative was outlined at a conference by Indian government minister Piyush Goyal
India is considering introducing a new visa-on-arrival scheme for foreign patients from locations such as the US and Europe.
The idea was addressed by Piyush Goyal, the country’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, at a health summit held by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The aim of the scheme would be to simplify the visa process for medical travellers, and support the country’s growing medical tourism industry.
It is hoped that by offering visas on arrival, the government could reduce the barriers for international patients to access India’s world-class medical services.
Goyal stated that while the scheme would be focused on attracting medical travellers from countries with established trade and medical ties, such as the US and parts of Europe.
The Medical Travel Company, the BAPIO Training Academy, and Marengo Asia Hospitals recently agreed to promote India as a medical tourist destination for UK citizens.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor for Voyageur Group, joining in 2021. He writes for both ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision and air medical transportation. He also serves as Title Editor of the Assistance & Repatriation Reviews. Oliver holds an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University, as well as a BA in English with Creative Writing from Falmouth University.
February 2025
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Offering readers a deep dive into the issues facing providers and payers of healthcare services around the world. Cost containment, international patient department development, the role of AI in healthcare delivery and more.
