The Money Side: A Sector That’s Booming
The numbers tell you why India is pushing hard on this. Medical tourism in India is projected to explode from $18.2 billion in 2025 to $58.2 billion by 2035 more than triple in a single decade. That’s not speculation; that’s based on actual Ministry of Tourism data showing 131,856 foreign patients came to India for medical procedures just in the first four months of 2025.To put that in perspective, medical tourism already accounts for about 4.1 percent of all foreign arrivals to India. That’s a meaningful slice of the economy and it’s growing.The partnership has serious financial backing too. The D.Y. Patil Group (a major Indian healthcare conglomerate) and Mulk International have each invested AED 100 million into Mulk Med Healthcare, signaling real confidence in the model.
Where This Fits in the Global Picture
India currently ranks 10th globally in the Medical Tourism Index, which is respectable but leaves room for improvement. Interestingly, the country’s top source of medical tourists isn’t from Europe or the USA it’s from Bangladesh, which sent 482,336 patients to India in 2024 alone. That tells you something important: neighboring countries and emerging markets view India as their go-to destination for complex care at prices they can actually afford.The partnership is designed to deepen that advantage. By offering oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, organ transplants, and fertility procedures through an easy-to-use digital interface, India is positioning itself as the accessible alternative to more expensive healthcare systems worldwide.
The Real Test Ahead
For now, the platform is rolling out in phases, starting with pilot programs in select Indian states. The real measure of success won’t be the technology itself—it’ll be whether international patients actually feel confident enough to book complex surgeries abroad and whether Indian hospitals can deliver on the promise of affordable, world-class care consistently.If they pull it off, this partnership could set a new standard for how medical tourism works globally. For patients in emerging markets, it might genuinely be life-changing.
MBH/AB