India is steadily positioning itself as a global healthcare hub, aiming to achieve this vision by 2047. Metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai already attract patients from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The Covid-19 pandemic showcased India’s pharmaceutical strength, with vaccines like Covishield and Covaxin boosting its global reputation.

Pharmaceutical exports touched $27.9 billion in FY24, while medical value travel rebounded to $10.2 billion in 2023, projected to reach $58 billion by 2035. High-quality yet affordable treatments in oncology, cardiac surgery, and transplants make India attractive.

Hospital chains are expanding, with 100,000 new beds expected by 2030, and diagnostics growing at 11–12% CAGR. Digital health, with AI-powered telemedicine and platforms like CoWIN, offers India a unique edge. However, challenges remain, heavy import reliance on APIs, uneven quality standards, and modest R&D spending (5–6% of pharma revenues).

Private sector leadership, supported by government policies like PLI schemes and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, could drive India toward becoming a health tourism epicentre, blending affordability with innovation.