Indian hospitals are witnessing early signs of a slowdown in high-value medical tourism as escalating tensions in the Middle East create uncertainty around travel and patient mobility. The region is a key source market for India’s international patients, particularly for complex procedures such as cardiac, oncology and transplant surgeries, and hospitals say the evolving geopolitical situation is beginning to cloud near-term visibility for overseas patient inflows.
According to Brickwork Ratings, India’s medical tourism market which was valued at US$ 8.7 billion in 2025, is set to almost double to US$ 16.2 billion by 2030, driven by affordable, high-quality care and streamlined visa processes. Ranking 10th in the Medical Tourism Index, India attracted 7.3 million foreign patients in 2023–24, with rising demand for specialized treatments and strong international partnerships boosting growth.
Anil Vinayak, Group COO, Fortis Healthcare Limited, said patients from across the globe come for high end complex work and availability of almost all treatment modalities. They choose India for three core reasons: high clinical expertise, cost advantage and lower than timely access to complex care. Patients travel for cancer care and oncology services, organ and bone marrow transplant, neurosurgical interventions, orthopaedics and spine surgeries and complex cardiac procedures for adult and paediatric. In Fortis, 22% of the total patient footfall is from the Middle East majority of which is from Iraq followed by Yemen and Oman.
Ongoing geopolitical conflict can impact this segment through travel restrictions and flight disruptions especially from the countries directly affected and also CIS due to air corridor disruptions. The other reasons would be currency and economic instability, delays in government-sponsored medical referrals, he added.
Having said that, in the short term, this may lead to softening of high-value surgical volumes. From a business standpoint, while we may see temporary moderation, Fortis will mitigate risk through diversified source markets (Africa, South Asia), strong tele-consult pathways, and a medicine-led clinical growth strategy. There may be a short-term volume and revenue pressures, we foresee a temporary Q1 disruption, with recovery momentum likely from Q2, said Vinayak.
A source from the International wing, Narayana Health City said, “Given the evolving travel and airspace situation in certain regions, some international patients may experience temporary disruptions or delays in their planned visits, particularly if they were scheduled for time-sensitive or advanced procedures. However, our teams remain in close coordination with patients and facilitators to reschedule consultations and treatments as required, ensuring continuity of care wherever possible. Historically, patients from countries such as Iraq, Yemen, and the UAE have primarily sought advanced cardiac care with us, while those from Oman, Yemen, and Iraq have travelled for specialised treatments including bone marrow transplant (BMT) and oncology services.
Dr Vidya V Bhat, Medical Director, Radhakrishna Multispeciality Hospital, Bengaluru said, “The ongoing crisis in the Middle East may gradually influence medical tourism patterns, with some patients exploring alternative destinations for treatment. India, with its strong clinical expertise and cost-effective care, could see increased interest. However, continuity of care and patient safety must remain the foremost priority in cross-border healthcare decisions.”
The evolving situation in the Middle East may lead some patients to reconsider their treatment destinations. India has steadily built a reputation for high-quality, affordable cancer care supported by experienced specialists and advanced infrastructure. In the coming months, we may observe a gradual shift in international patients exploring India for specialised treatments, pointed out Dr. Radheshyam Naik, Founder, Medical Director and Head of Medical Oncology, Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplantation, Sammprada Hospital.
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