STATUS, GROWTH, AND GOVERNANCE OF MEDICAL TOURISM IN INDIA: AN EMPIRICAL AND POLICY-ORIENTED ANALYSIS

Abstract

This study examines the status, growth, and governance of medical tourism in India through a policy-oriented mixed-methods design integrating document review, stakeholder perspectives, and patient-journey evidence. Drawing on national policy directions and published empirical work, the analysis maps governance domains spanning facilitation, quality assurance, transparency, intermediary oversight, and continuity of care. Findings indicate that India’s competitiveness continues to be anchored in perceived clinical expertise and value, while governance-sensitive gaps persist in pre-arrival coordination and post-discharge follow-up. Stakeholder inputs and experience-based evidence converge on the need for stronger inter-sector coordination, standardized information disclosure, regulated facilitator ecosystems, and clearer grievance and recourse pathways. The study argues that strengthening end-to-end governance is essential to sustain growth, protect international patients, and align medical tourism expansion with health-system accountability and equity considerations.