India is on the brink of a transformative leap in the global healthcare economy with the government’s ambitious plan to launch a dedicated digital portal for Medical Value Travel (MVT). Announced by Prataprao Jadhav, Hon’ble Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the initiative seeks to position India as a seamless, tech-enabled, and patient-centric destination for medical travellers worldwide.

Unveiled at FICCI’s Medical Value Travel Conference, the envisioned platform aims to unify hospitals, facilitators, travel agents, hotels, translators, and support services within a single digital ecosystem. This strategic consolidation will not only streamline patient journeys but also ensure a consistent, high-quality experience from visa facilitation and treatment to post-care rehabilitation. The move complements the government’s larger vision of decentralising healthcare services by extending MVT infrastructure to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, making quality healthcare more accessible across geographies.

Compliance Simplification and International Trust-Building

Reinforcing the regulatory support for this evolving ecosystem, Dr. Vinod K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, underscored the need to reduce compliance burdens for healthcare infrastructure expansion. In a progressive appeal to stakeholders, he called for collaborative inputs to enable smoother establishment of facilities across India, particularly in underpenetrated regions.

Dr. Paul also stressed the importance of government-to-government (G2G) partnerships, visa facilitation, and legal clarity in cross-border telemedicine consultations. “India should lead this conversation globally. We are a telemedicine superpower,” he stated, highlighting the country’s unique opportunity to shape global standards in virtual healthcare delivery.

Expanding India’s Health Value Proposition

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, brought attention to India’s traditional healthcare systems as a potent pillar of medical tourism. Advocating for an integrated clinical medical travel circuit, Kotecha noted that the AYUSH sector already commands a value of $30 billion, with massive potential for further integration into global MVT circuits.

The Ministry of Tourism echoed these sentiments, with Director General Mugdha Sinha revealing that nearly 644,000 international travellers visited India on e-medical and e-AYUSH visas from 20 countries. However, she acknowledged the pressing need to overhaul the AYUSH visa application process to ensure greater efficiency and security, stressing the role of digital innovation in protecting sensitive patient data and eliminating fraud.

Also Read :- Building a Tech-Enabled, Holistic Ecosystem for Senior Well-being

Industry Voices Call for a Holistic and Collaborative Model

Industry leaders also called for a paradigm shift. Dr. Upasana Arora, Managing Director of Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals, emphasised India’s unique healthcare proposition, blending modern medicine with traditional systems like Ayurveda and Unani. Meanwhile, Dr. Raajiv Singhal, Founding Member, Managing Director & Group CEO of Marengo Asia Hospitals, envisioned a future built around international clinical partnerships, moving beyond patient acquisition to “teach, train and treat” models across borders.

As India’s MVT market, valued at $7.69 billion in 2024, is poised to cross $14.31 billion by 2029, the country stands at a crucial inflexion point. With 18% of the global market share and a strategic blueprint unfolding, India is ready to redefine its global healthcare footprint.

Where Policy Meets Innovation: 16th Elets Healthcare Innovation Summit & Awards 2025

Against this backdrop of regulatory overhaul, digital acceleration, and global positioning, the upcoming 16th Elets Healthcare Innovation Summit & Awards 2025, scheduled for 17th July 2025 in Hyderabad, promises to be a landmark event. Organised by Elets Technomedia with knowledge partner eHealth Magazine, this exclusive, invite-only summit will convene top healthcare leaders, policymakers, and innovators to unlock transformative strategies for India’s health and life sciences sector.

With a sharp focus on themes like policy-driven innovation, tech-led disruption, patient-centric pharma pipelines, and digital healthcare procurement, the summit offers over 10 hours of networking, 35+ top speakers, 100+ award recognitions, and a showcase of cutting-edge innovations shaping tomorrow’s healthcare. As India strengthens its position on the global MVT map, the Summit serves as the ideal platform for decision-makers to explore collaborative pathways, launch new ideas, and drive impactful change across borders.

Be there to witness India’s journey from a healthcare destination to a global health ecosystem enabler. For more information, go to https://events.eletsonline.com/his/

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