India is steadily establishing itself as one of the world’s leading medical tourism destinations, driven by affordable healthcare, expanding hospital infrastructure and supportive government initiatives, according to a report by Antique Stock Broking.
The report, titled India Hospitals: Scaling Capacity to Meet Rising Healthcare Demand, notes that the country’s healthcare industry is witnessing sustained growth due to rising demand for quality treatment, wider health insurance coverage and continuous expansion by private hospital networks.
India currently ranks 10th in the Medical Tourism Index, reflecting its growing appeal among international patients seeking advanced medical care at significantly lower costs than in many developed countries. The combination of skilled healthcare professionals, modern medical facilities and cost-effective treatment continues to attract patients from across the globe.
The study also highlights the rapid expansion of the hospital sector. Between FY23 and FY26, 15 major hospital operators added nearly 19,000 beds, taking their combined capacity to more than 70,000 beds. By FY30, the report expects this figure to exceed 108,000 beds, representing an estimated 54% increase from FY26 levels.
Most of the upcoming expansion is expected through brownfield projects, which account for nearly 63% of the planned capacity additions. Such projects generally require lower investment and shorter completion timelines, helping hospitals achieve quicker returns.
Despite the aggressive expansion plans, Antique believes the risk of excess hospital capacity remains limited. Rising health insurance penetration, government healthcare programmes such as Ayushman Bharat and PM-JAY, and the growing preference for organised healthcare providers are expected to keep demand strong.
The report maintains a positive outlook for the hospital industry, citing healthy financials, improving operational efficiency and long-term demand for quality healthcare services. Established multi-specialty hospital chains with strong brands are expected to benefit the most from increasing domestic healthcare spending and rising inflow of international patients.
India’s healthcare sector continues to gain global recognition as investments in infrastructure, technology and hospital capacity accelerate. With affordable treatment, expanding facilities and favourable policy support, the country is well placed to strengthen its role as a major medical tourism hub in the coming years.