Foreign patients visiting Hyderabad soar from 75,000 in 2014 to 1.5 lakh in 2024

Hyderabad emerges as a top medical tourism destination, offering affordable treatments and advanced technologies to global patients.

The number of foreign patients visiting Hyderabad for medical care has more than doubled over the past decade, from 75,171 in 2014 to 1,55,313 in 2024, marking Telangana’s rapid rise as a preferred destination for medical tourism. In 2024 alone, over 8.8 crore patients from across India also sought treatment in the State.

Key advantages such as English-speaking staff, minimal waiting periods, supportive government policies and accessible medical visas have drawn patients from the U.S., U.K., Russia, Africa and the Middle East. The Telangana government is seizing the global spotlight offered by the upcoming Miss World 2025 pageant to elevate its presence on the international medical tourism map.

As part of the initiative, Miss World contestants will participate in a special programme on May 16 at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, where they will be introduced to Telangana’s advanced and affordable medical care. With the pageant drawing participation from over 120 countries and being broadcast to more than 150 nations, the State is poised to make a compelling case as a global healthcare hub, said a release issued by the government.

Treatments that cost tens of thousands of dollars in Western nations are available in Hyderabad at a fraction of the price, heart surgeries in Hyderabad, for example, range between $5,000 to $10,000, compared to $100,000 in the U.S, the release said.

The release further said that not only private hospitals but also government-run hospitals, including Osmania General Hospital (OGH) and MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre (MNJIO RCC), are equipped with advanced technologies such as robotic surgery and telemedicine, while many carry international accreditations like JCI and NABH.