Medical or Health tourism, a part of the healthcare industry, looks into patients looking for complex surgeries & medical treatments abroad. It's favored by people across the world because it offers more affordable medical care in developing countries in comparison to the high costs in developed nations, which is driven by support from tourism departments & local governments, which work to provide affordable services & treatments to international patients, which play a significant role in the expansion of the global medical tourism market.
As per hospitalcmq, the global Medical Tourism market is a significant industry, with approximately 14 million people traveling internationally each year for medical care. The market is valued between 50 to 70 billion dollars annually. Thailand is the leading destination, attracting 1.2 million medical tourists, followed by Mexico, which receives one million visitors annually, primarily from the U.S. and Canada.
As per hospitalcmq In third place, the United States hosts around 800,000 medical tourists. Other top destinations include Singapore, India, Brazil, Turkey, and Taiwan, collectively welcoming 1.38 million tourists seeking medical treatments. These statistics highlight the increasing global demand for affordable, high-quality healthcare in diverse international locations.
The Global Medical Tourism Market is experiencing an exciting resurgence as travel restrictions loosen and healthcare options abroad continue to attract patients. India, Thailand, and Mexico have emerged as popular medical tourism destinations due to their affordable healthcare offerings - patients seeking cost-effective treatments unavailable or affordable within their home countries are turning abroad for care.
Recent trends indicate an increasing interest in specialized procedures, including cosmetic surgeries, fertility treatments and dental care. Healthcare providers are now also emphasizing wellness and recovery tourism packages specifically targeted to medical tourists - this trend is influencing global hubs of medical tourism to make healthcare more available to international patients.
Digitized healthcare technologies and telemedicine offer exciting new growth prospects as remote consultations facilitate medical tourism. Furthermore, governments in many countries are encouraging medical tourism through incentives and infrastructure improvements; as patients prioritize health and wellness more heavily than before, this market stands to benefit from rising disposable incomes and an acceptance of international healthcare services.
Key Takeaways
- Market Growth: The global medical tourism market is projected to grow from USD 136.5 billion in 2023 to USD 379.6 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 12%.
- Affordable Treatment: Demand for complex surgeries abroad is driven by cost savings in developing nations, with patients often paying 25% to 75% less compared to developed countries.
- Popular Destinations: Thailand, Mexico, India, and the United States are leading destinations, collectively attracting millions of medical tourists annually seeking cost-effective healthcare.
- Service Providers: The private sector dominates due to advanced health technologies and high-quality care, while the public sector is growing with improved cross-border healthcare and telemedicine.
- Treatment Segments: Cancer treatment leads in revenue due to rising global cases, followed by cardiovascular care, which is expected to be the fastest-growing segment.
- Regional Leadership: North America holds a dominant market share, driven by US investment and orthopedic/cardiac treatment demand, while Asia-Pacific grows rapidly due to affordable procedures.
- Competition & Innovation: Many local providers compete through investments, partnerships, and facility expansion—recent highlights include Apollo Hospitals establishing a facility for international patients in the US.
Use Cases
- Cross-border Surgery: Patients from high-cost regions travel abroad for affordable orthopedic, cardiac, or cancer surgeries, reducing expenses and accessing advanced medical care.
- Wellness Packages: Providers offer bundled wellness and recovery tourism experiences, attracting international clients seeking holistic care beyond only procedures.
- Telemedicine Consults: Digitized platforms facilitate remote expert consultations and pre-travel planning, improving patient access and care coordination for medical tourism.
- Insurance Integration: Insurers collaborate with overseas hospitals to extend coverage for treatments abroad, increasing value for underinsured patients and enabling global health choice.
- Specialized Treatment Hubs: Destination countries develop specialized centers for cosmetic, fertility, and dental care, boosting healthcare revenue and attracting new patient markets.
- Travel-Accommodation Partnerships: Hospitals and hotels create packages to streamline travel and recovery for foreign patients, enhancing experience and generating allied sector demand.
Market Dynamic
Globalization has played a major role in the growth of medical tourism, making it possible for people to access high-end healthcare treatments at a fraction of the cost, especially for individuals from developed countries, including Americans, as this global trend has led to substantial enhancement in healthcare, minimizing expenses by 25% to 75%, & has been a driving force behind the growth of the global medical tourism market.
However, a major challenge in the healthcare system is the handing over of medical records, which can interrupt patient care & even result in tragic outcomes. When patients need emergency treatment, there isn't a smooth & efficient free-market system for them to benefit from, which has the potential to limit the growth of the health tourism market, as it poses obstacles to seamless & timely healthcare delivery across borders.
Research Scope and Analysis
By Treatment Type
The cancer treatment category is the leading revenue generator for the global market in 2023 & is expected to maintain its lead in the coming future, mainly as cancer is becoming more common across the world.
According to a report by the International Agency for Research on
Cancer, in the recent past, there were about 19.3 million new cancer cases & approx. 10 million cancer-related deaths globally, of which, breast cancer accounted for about 11.7% of new cases, followed by lung cancer at 11.4% & colorectal cancer at 10.0%. The availability of enhanced cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, targeted therapies, & radiation therapy, is driving the growth of medical tourism.
Since cancer treatment can be expensive, many people are turning to medical tourism to get more affordable care in other countries, which is expected to boost this segment further in the coming years.
Further, cardiovascular treatment is projected to be the most promising segment in the future, as the increase in the number of cardiovascular cases & deaths is driving the growth.
Cardiovascular diseases account for approx. 32% or 17.9 million of total global deaths every year, as per the W.H.O. In addition, unhealthy lifestyles, tobacco use, poor dietary habits, & lack of physical activity are major contributors to these diseases. With urbanization, more jobs, & high consumption of fast food, cardiovascular cases are expected to rise, making this segment the fastest-growing in the forecast period.
By Service Providers
The medical tourism market is divided into two categories in terms of service providers, public & private. As of 2023, the private sector is the dominant force in the growth of the market & is expected to continue growing in the future. Private providers are favored due to their use of high-end
healthcare technologies & their reputation for high-quality care.
They offer quick services & high privacy in comparison to the public sector. Health facilities in developing countries focus on international recognition to attain global healthcare insurance & purchaser networks. In developed nations, insurance companies are containing health tourism options in their plans, promoting healthcare services abroad. Increasing healthcare costs & a high number of underinsured individuals encourage medical tourists to look for affordable treatment in developing countries.
In addition, the public segment is also anticipated to see substantial growth. The globalization of healthcare & increased patient mobility across borders are driving this trend. Integration of technologies such as telemedicine & e-health is improving access to care in foreign nations. Moreover, easy transportation, quality accommodation, & better communication channels are further promoting medical tourism.
The Medical Tourism Market Report is segmented on the basis of the following
By Treatment Type
- Cancer Treatment
- Cardiovascular Treatment
- Dental Treatment
- Fertility Treatment
- Cosmetic Treatment
- Orthopedic Treatment
- Others
By Service Providers
Regional Analysis
North America leads the global medical tourism market,
holding a dominant 40.3% market share in 2023, which is largely due to the rise in number of people traveling to the US for orthopedic &cardiac treatments. Also, as per the World Travel and Tourism Council, the US invested over USD 3.9 billion in medical tourism back in 2019. This financial commitment is further driving the growth of the medical tourism market in North America.
Further, Europe is also a strong region, with countries like France, the UK, & Spain increasing their medical facilities & infrastructure, attracting medical tourists.
Moreover, the Asia-Pacific region is experiencing fast growth in the global medical tourism market. Asian countries are known for offering affordable medical treatments. Like, India ranks as the tenth most popular destination for medical tourism, with procedures like bypass surgery costing significantly less than in the US, which acts as a key driver of the market's growth in the Asia-Pacific region, making it a top choice for medical tourists.
By Region
North America
Europe
- Germany
- The U.K.
- France
- Italy
- Russia
- Spain
- Benelux
- Nordic
- Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
- India
- ANZ
- ASEAN
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Argentina
- Colombia
- Rest of Latin America
Middle East & Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE
- South Africa
- Israel
- Egypt
- Rest of MEA
Competitive Landscape
The medical tourism market is not dominated by a single company but by many local players. These companies are working hard to grow their market share through tactics like investing in their businesses, building partnerships, & acquiring others. They're also putting effort into creating enhanced products & keeping their prices competitive.
In January 2023, Apollo Hospitals unveiled its plans to establish a new medical facility for international patients in the US, specifically in Houston, Texas, which will provide numerous medical services, like heart care, cancer treatment, & orthopedic services, and will also offer a variety of healthcare options for patients coming from different parts of the world.
Some of the prominent players in the global Medical Tourism Market are:
- Apollo Hospitals Group
- IHH Healthcare
- Specialty Hospital
- KPJ Healthcare Berhad
- Fortis Healthcare
- UZ Leuven
- Medic Abroad
- NTT Medical Center Tokyo
- Samitivej PCL
- Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital
- Other Key Players
Recent Developments
- In January 2024, MedRetreat launched a Virtual Consultation Platform, enabling prospective medical tourists to connect with international healthcare providers remotely before making travel decisions.
- In March 2024, Healthbase introduced Medical Tourism Insurance designed to cover travel costs and overseas medical treatments for international patients.
- In February 2024, MEDIGO completed a Series C funding round, raising $25 million to enhance its medical tourism platform and expand market reach.
- In April 2024, BookingHealth secured $8 million seed funding to develop AI-driven algorithms for improving personalized medical travel recommendations.
- In March 2024, the Thai Medical Tourism Association partnered with Expedia to promote bundled medical tourism packages and streamline travel booking for global patients.
- In April 2024, Joint Commission International implemented new accreditation standards for international medical facilities, setting higher benchmarks for quality and patient safety in destination hospitals.
Report Details
| Report Characteristics |
| Market Size (2023) |
USD 136.5 Bn |
| Forecast Value (2032) |
USD 379.6 Bn |
| CAGR (2023-2032) |
40.3% |
| Historical Data |
2017 - 2022 |
| Forecast Data |
2023 - 2032 |
| Base Year |
2022 |
| Estimate Year |
2023 |
| Report Coverage |
Market Revenue Estimation, Market Dynamics, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and etc. |
| Segments Covered |
By Treatment Type (Cancer Treatment, Cardiovascular Treatment, Dental Treatment, Fertility Treatment, Cosmetic Treatment, Orthopedic Treatment, and Others), By Service Providers (Private and Public) |
| Regional Coverage |
North America – The US and Canada; Europe – Germany, The UK, France, Russia, Spain, Italy, Benelux, Nordic, & Rest of Europe; Asia- Pacific– China, Japan, South Korea, India, ANZ, ASEAN, Rest of APAC; Latin America – Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Rest of Latin America; Middle East & Africa – Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, & Rest of MEA |
| Prominent Players |
Apollo Hospitals Group, IHH Healthcare, Specialty Hospital, KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Fortis Healthcare, UZ Leuven, Medic Abroad, NTT Medical Center Tokyo, Samitivej PCL, Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, and Other Key Players |
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