Telangana is moving to formally organize its medical travel sector by setting up a Telangana State Medical Tourism Society. At the same time, the government proposes a large integrated Medical Value Tourism (MVT) hub in Hyderabad, aiming to make the city South Asia’s most comprehensive medical tourism destination.
Telangana Tourism recently held a high-level policy round-table with senior officials and industry stakeholders to discuss governance structure, operational framework and a long-term roadmap. The proposed society is intended to streamline coordination and enhance Hyderabad’s global standing in healthcare travel.
Presiding over the meeting, Telangana Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director V. Kranthi said the city is prepared for expansion. “Hyderabad stands institutionally and operationally prepared to scale as a globally trusted medical value tourism destination. With our integrated healthcare-hospitality-aviation ecosystem and clinical excellence, we are well positioned to emerge as one of India’s five regional Medical Value Tourism hubs,” she said.
Experts at the discussion pointed to Hyderabad’s advantages — advanced hospitals, good treatment outcomes, competitive costs and a strong healthcare-hospitality-aviation network.
Industry members stressed the importance of a single nodal agency to handle global promotion, international patient outreach, licensing of facilitators, ethical oversight and grievance redressal. One participant remarked, “Medical travellers today seek transparency, seamless facilitation, and post-treatment continuity of care. A structured state-level body will help ensure consistency in patient experience while enhancing global confidence in Hyderabad as a destination.”
The meeting also reviewed a proposal for a greenfield integrated medical value tourism hub to be developed through a public-private partnership. The facility would combine hospitals, wellness and Ayurveda centres, medical colleges, research institutions and tourism support services at one location.
Officials plan to submit recommendations to Union ministries in line with the Union Budget 2026 proposal for five national MVT hubs. A senior official noted, “The integrated MVT hub model will not only strengthen healthcare delivery but also create a complete ecosystem — from treatment to recuperation and tourism — making Hyderabad a comprehensive medical travel destination.”
India’s medical value travel industry is growing under the ‘Heal in India’ initiative, with estimates suggesting the market could reach $20.4 billion by 2026 and $25–28 billion by 2030 due to rising international demand and easier visa procedures.
Although Delhi and Chennai have long dominated the sector, Hyderabad consistently ranks among the country’s top three destinations, with international patient arrivals more than doubling over the past decade.
“Hyderabad’s combination of clinical excellence, affordability, and connectivity gives it a natural advantage. With coordinated policy support, the city can move from being a top destination to becoming a sector leader,” Kranthi added.
(The above image is AI-generated and is for illustrative purposes only)