Medical tourism in India: how can foreigners travel to the country for treatment or examination

Even though about a third of the population still lives below the poverty line in India, the country is considered one of the largest centers for medical tourism. Tourists from all over the world turn to local hospitals and centers for services.
Medicine in the country is affordable and of high quality, and the prices are more democratic than in many other countries. However, it is worth remembering that a high level of medical care is provided precisely in private institutions, a large number of which are among the best in Asia. If we talk about state ones, the quality of services there is not too satisfactory. We offer to check a piece of useful information below about how foreign tourists can get to India for treatment or examination.
What needs to be done to come to the country for medical care
To properly plan your trip, first of all, you need to choose a medical facility in India and determine the date of your visit. The list of the best local private hospitals can be found at the link.
Having found a suitable institution and consulted with a doctor, you should collect the necessary documents. All tourists who are going to receive medical care in India must have a visa. For this, you need to visit the Indian embassy in your country. A list of Indian embassies worldwide is available at the following link.
Often, private medical institutions help with the preparation of documents. However, the lion's share will have to be done independently. To obtain a visa, you may need to provide the embassy with the address of the clinic, proof of sufficient income for medical expenses, the name of the insurance company, prescriptions, and treatment plan, as well as other papers. All this will be clarified on the spot.
To travel to the country for treating a medical visa is usually required. However, foreign nationals can come now to India on a tourist or business visa and receive certain types of medical care. But for long-term and serious treatment, it is still better to choose a medical visa.
Before travel, it is recommended to carefully check all documents, medical certificates, doctor's reports, and, if necessary, x-rays, MRIs, health histories, photographs, immunization records, prescriptions, and any other medical records relevant to future treatment.