South Korea attracted a record 2.01 million foreign medical tourists in 2025, up 71.9 percent year-on-year, driven by demand for healthcare services. China and Japan accounted for the largest shares, while Seoul dominated medical tourism spending, particularly in dermatology and plastic surgery
The Telangana government’s move to carve out elite medical suites at TIMS, Sanathnagar, for foreign patients under a medical tourism initiative has drawn sharp criticism. Senior doctors and public health experts argue the plan undermines the institute’s original purpose of serving the poor and middle class.
The Enforcement Directorate has uncovered an alleged organ trafficking racket in Kerala operated through a medical tourism firm. Investigators claim the network exploited financially vulnerable donors, forged documents and facilitated illegal transplants, with searches conducted to trace proceeds and evidence
India’s medical tourism sector is projected to nearly double from $8.7 billion in 2025 to $16.2 billion by 2030, driven by healthcare infrastructure, AYUSH systems, and policy support. The government is also developing Regional Medical Hubs to boost growth
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed setting up five regional medical hubs to promote medical tourism, alongside new Ayurveda institutes, upgraded Ayush facilities and expanded allied health training, while presenting the Union Budget 2026–27.
Rising US tariffs on Chinese medical imports are inflating healthcare costs, prompting a surge in outbound medical tourism. Patients are increasingly choosing affordable treatment in countries like India and Mexico as domestic procedures grow costlier due to disrupted supply chains
Key initiatives include developing Somasila project for destination weddings, with plans set for sites like Ramappa, Laknavaram, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Anantagiri Hills as well.
