Once seen primarily as a tech hub, Hyderabad is now emerging as a powerhouse in another high-stakes industry: Healthcare. And the numbers tell the story.
Published May 10, 2025 | 9:10 AM ⚊ Updated May 10, 2025 | 10:09 AM
Telangana is seizing the Miss World pageant to showcase its healthcare excellence to the world. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Hyderabad is emerging as a global medical tourism hub, leveraging events like Miss World 2025 to spotlight its healthcare excellence. With rising international patient inflow, advanced treatments, and world-class infrastructure, hospitals are attracting global attention. Strategic investments, government support, and a focus on affordability, accessibility, and hospitality are driving rapid growth in the sector.
When you think of Miss World, you picture gowns, grace, and so called global “goodwill”. But this year, Hyderabad—the host city—is preparing to spotlight a different kind of crown jewel: Its fast-rising medical tourism industry.
While contestants will pose against iconic backdrops like Charminar and Yadadri Temple, a unique detour awaits them on 16 May. AIG Hospital will host a Medical Tourism Introduction Program—a first-of-its-kind blend of glamour and global health diplomacy.
With delegates from 120 countries and a global broadcast reach of 150+ nations, Telangana is seizing this moment to showcase its healthcare excellence to the world.
Once seen primarily as a tech hub, Hyderabad is now emerging as a powerhouse in another high-stakes industry: Healthcare. And the numbers tell the story.
According to the government, back in 2014, just over 75,000 foreign patients visited Telangana for medical treatment. Fast forward to 2024, and that figure has more than doubled to 1.55 lakh. On the domestic front, a staggering 8.82 crore patients from other Indian states travelled to Telangana last year alone for medical care.
Strategic investments—by both the government and global private equity players—have fuelled this transformation. And now, it’s ready for the Miss World spotlight.
But what exactly is medical tourism?
To break it down, South First turned to Prem Gokul, associate vice president (AVP) of International Business Development at KIMS Hospitals in Hyderabad.
“Medical tourism—or what we now call medical value travel—is simply when patients travel across borders to access medical care,” he explains. “It’s been around for a long time, but recent improvements in affordability, flight connectivity, and global awareness have brought it to the forefront.”
According to Gokul, there are three major types of patients who travel for healthcare:
And India—especially Hyderabad—is becoming a favoured destination.
“At KIMS-Sunshine, we’re proud to be part of the Mayo Clinic network in Asia and rank as the second-leading center in the region for robotic hip and knee replacements,” he says. “Patients from across the globe place their trust in us—even from countries like the UK, where certain treatments are still evolving.”
India’s medical tourism industry is a two-way street. “Inbound” refers to foreign patients coming here, which is worth nearly $5 billion annually. Patients hail from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and across Africa and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) nations.
But there’s also an “outbound” side. Despite India’s growing medical prowess, some patients—usually the ultra-rich—still seek specialized care abroad. “India spends about $1 billion annually on outbound medical travel,” Gokul reveals, pointing to destinations like the US, UK, Singapore and Germany.
He added that India ranks today as number three globally in terms of number of patients served, and ranks 10th in terms of revenue.
Meanwhile, the Telangana government in a statement noted, “Telangana is swiftly establishing itself as a global medical tourism hub, backed by world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, top-tier medical professionals, and strong government support. Under Revanth Reddy’s leadership, the state has earned special recognition and is set to boost its global image with the 72nd Miss World event.”
The statement also highlights Telangana’s cost advantage—medical procedures here cost 60-80 percent less than in the West. A heart surgery that costs $100,000 in the US can be performed for just $5,000 to $10,000 in Hyderabad, and knee replacements that cost upwards of $40,000 abroad are done for under $5,000. And the quality? Uncompromised.
As a result, hospitals like NIMS, Osmania, MNJ Cancer Institute, Apollo, Yashoda, and KIMS-Sunshine are now well-known among international patients, offering everything from robotic surgeries to transplants and oncology care.
Key factors driving this success include affordable treatments, minimal waiting times, English-speaking staff, streamlined e-visa processes, and excellent connectivity.
“With the global spotlight from the Miss World 2025 pageant, Telangana aims to further accelerate this momentum and become a top-tier international destination for medical tourism,” the statement added.
“When I was studying in Singapore, I saw patients from all over Southeast Asia—Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh—coming in for medical treatment,” recalls Prem Gokul. “Singapore had positioned itself as a global healthcare hub, and I thought, ‘Why not Hyderabad?’”
Back in 2010, Hyderabad had no dedicated international marketing for medical tourism. Treatments were mostly driven by word of mouth, family ties, or occasional government partnerships.
“Uday Clinic saw a few patients from Oman, and Apollo had referrals from Tanzania, but it was minimal,” Prem says. So, he pitched the idea of an international desk to Yashoda Hospitals.
“It was a new concept for them,” he recalls, “but I showed them the data, the successful Singapore model, and the potential was clear.”
Prem’s team began traveling to African countries like Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda, building relationships and trust. Despite challenges like no direct flights and an undeveloped ecosystem, their efforts paid off.
Today, Hyderabad is a global medical hub, with direct flights from Ethiopia and Dhaka. Every major hospital now has an international patient desk, and patients from Africa and the Middle East are flocking for complex procedures like transplants and robotic surgeries.
“It’s been a 15-year journey,” says Prem. “We’ve gone from nothing to one of Asia’s most trusted destinations. And this is just the beginning.”
So, who exactly is coming to Hyderabad for treatment? According to Prem Gokul, who has been closely tracking these patterns for over a decade, the answer starts with one country: Somalia.
“Right now, the highest number of patients coming to Hyderabad are from Somalia,” he says. “It’s largely driven by the close-knit Somali student community here. Word-of-mouth plays a big role, and once someone has a good experience, it spreads quickly within that network.”
That ripple effect—of trust, familiarity, and results—has turned Hyderabad into a trusted hub not just for individuals, but entire communities from East Africa.
Next on the list? Bangladesh and Sudan, followed by a steady trickle from Oman. “Oman is also a key contributor, though to a lesser extent,” Prem adds. And as the inflow continues to grow, so does the economic impact.
Right now, the medical tourism market in Hyderabad is estimated to be worth ₹500 crore, he says. That’s the total value of international patients seeking treatment in the city’s hospitals. But this is just the beginning.
“We’re seeing strong double-digit growth,” Prem notes. “When I first started in this space, India’s total medical value travel market was only around $1 to $1.5 billion. Today, it’s hovering between $5 to $6 billion—even with geopolitical headwinds in countries like Afghanistan and Bangladesh, which were once major contributors.”
And the future? It looks even brighter. “Given the trends, I expect Hyderabad’s share to triple in the next three to four years,” Prem predicts. “From ₹500 crore today, we could be looking at ₹1,500 crore. The momentum is real.”
Prem emphasizes that medical tourism in Hyderabad isn’t just about hospitals; it’s the entire ecosystem that supports patients—from airlines and guesthouses to interpreters and hospitality staff.
“Hospitals are just one part of the puzzle,” he says. “From airport pickups and SIM cards to translation services and guesthouse bookings, every detail matters. The hospitality experience plays a huge role. Thailand leads in medical tourism because it’s not just about the surgery—it’s the care patients receive from the moment they land. We’re catching up—and fast.”
Hyderabad is not just catching up in complex treatments; it’s pulling ahead, especially in fields like oncology, brain surgery, and cardiac care.
“We’re outpacing countries focused on cosmetic treatments,” Prem adds. With most medical staff fluent in English and translators available in languages like Arabic and French, Hyderabad ensures a seamless experience for international patients.
The government is playing a crucial role in supporting this vision, according to Prem. “It’s no longer just individual hospitals marketing themselves. It’s Hyderabad positioning itself as a unified global health destination.”
In healthcare, traditional methods like personal outreach still matter. “Healthcare is personal,” says Prem, pointing out that even industry leaders like Apollo send doctors abroad for face-to-face connections.
However, what’s changing is the amplification of global events like Miss World and Formula E. “These events grab global attention,” Prem notes.
He further adds, “When Hyderabad hosts them, people notice not only the city but what it offers in healthcare. The impact is transformative. What might have taken years of traditional outreach can now be achieved in just a few years, thanks to the global visibility these events bring.”
While Hyderabad is rapidly emerging as a global healthcare destination, it faces tough competition from established players like Chennai and Delhi.
“Chennai has long been the healthcare capital of India,” says Prem Gokul. “Patients from nearby countries like Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and the Maldives still prefer Chennai.” Chennai’s reputation stems from pioneering procedures like heart, lung, liver and bone marrow transplants, respectively, with institutions like CMC Vellore and MIOT leading the way over the past 40–50 years.
Delhi has recently emerged as another market due to its network of corporate hospitals and its global connectivity. “In terms of volume and connectivity, Delhi has overtaken Chennai, with its international airport acting as a major hub for medical tourism.”
So, where does that leave Hyderabad?
“We entered the game later,” Prem acknowledges, “but that gives us the opportunity to leapfrog by focusing on visibility and awareness.” Events like the Miss World pageant are key to this strategy, shifting perceptions and showcasing Hyderabad as a serious medical tourism destination.
However, visibility alone isn’t enough. “We need more direct international flights—like the new routes to Ethiopia and other African nations,” Prem says. “That’s crucial for making Hyderabad more accessible and competitive.”
He also added that, what the hospitals need to do is Skill development and Capacity Building for target audience countries as they have dearth of advanced healthcare.
“To build long-term, sustainable relationships with referral hospitals and doctors from Africa and other countries, we should focus on knowledge exchange and sharing best practices, especially since KIMS Hospitals and other institutions in Hyderabad are home to globally recognized medical experts,” he said.
“The Ministry of Tourism can play a vital role in Telangana to promote Medical Tourism like the way Singapore Tourism Board(STB) promotes medical tourism in Singapore during their road shows and other promotional events in foreign countries.”
“Likewise our Telangana Tourism Department also does road shows and events in other countries and medical tourism can also be part of it to get the mileage. They can also take hospitals with them who are like minded and interested in promoting their facilities. This also can be a powerful tool,” said Prem Gokul.
Finally, Hyderabad must stand out through its hospitality and patient-centric systems. Reiterating the need to build the ecosystem, Prem noted, “It’s about offering a complete ecosystem—from airport pickup to post-op care. Streamlined processes, compassionate care, and interpreters make all the difference. That’s where we can truly shine.”
While Hyderabad’s medical tourism sector is on a strong growth trajectory, regional instability and geopolitical tensions such as ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan can pose short-term challenges.
“Momentarily, yes,” admits Prem Gokul. “Safety is one of the biggest considerations in medical travel. When there’s conflict or uncertainty, patients and their families hesitate.”
He points to recent examples where political shifts directly impacted patient flow, “We’ve already seen this before—Afghanistan’s Taliban takeover abruptly halted inbound medical traffic because India stopped issuing visas. Similarly, the recent regime change in Bangladesh has negatively impacted the business.”
Bangladesh, in particular, has historically been a major contributor. “Bangladesh accounted for about 15 percent of our entire medical value travel (MVT) revenue. In a $4–5 billion industry, that’s a massive chunk. So yes, geopolitical shifts do matter.”
Despite these disruptions, Gokul remains optimistic: “I would say it’s temporary. Patients will return once the situation stabilizes—because they know India offers unmatched clinical outcomes, affordability, and patient care.”
He emphasizes the importance of word-of-mouth as a powerful, organic marketing tool: “When a patient goes back to their community, mosque, church, or social circle and shares a positive story, it spreads faster than any ad campaign.”
“A $10,000 surgery elsewhere might cost $6,000 here, often with better care and results. That kind of value is hard to ignore.”
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
