Telangana is strategically moving to solidify its position in the global medical tourism landscape. Recently, a pivotal roundtable convened by Telangana Tourism brought together high-level government officials and industry leaders. The primary objective was to define the institutional framework, governance model, and long-term strategic vision for the proposed Telangana State Medical Tourism Society (TGMTS). Furthermore, participants thoroughly examined a comprehensive strategy for developing an integrated Medical Value Tourism (MVT) hub in Hyderabad, aiming to establish the state as a leading, well-coordinated destination for cross-border healthcare.

Industry Expectations and Hyderabad’s Competitive Edge

The initial session of the roundtable focused on what industry stakeholders anticipate from the TGMTS, envisioned as the central coordinating entity for medical value tourism within Telangana. Discussions centered on its prospective functions in fostering stakeholder alignment, facilitating operations, ensuring robust governance, and providing long-term sectoral coordination. Participants underscored Hyderabad’s inherent strengths, which collectively position the city to attract a larger share of the international patient travel market. These include:

  • Strong clinical outcomes and a reputation for medical excellence.
  • Advanced healthcare infrastructure, including modern hospitals and specialized facilities.
  • Significant cost advantages compared to Western healthcare markets.
  • A seamless integration of healthcare, hospitality, and aviation services.

Key recommendations emerged for establishing the Society as a unified platform. Its mandate would be to drive policy advocacy, enhance global branding, execute international outreach initiatives, promote ethical self-regulation, and ensure cohesive industry representation. Specific proposals for a comprehensive framework included:

  • Implementing transparent grievance-redressal mechanisms for international patients.
  • Organizing targeted familiarisation programmes for international delegates and medical facilitators.
  • Establishing a formal licensing system for medical tourism facilitators to uphold ethical practices, enhance credibility, and guarantee consistent patient experiences.

Developing an Integrated Medical Value Tourism Hub

The second session delved into detailed discussions concerning a proposed integrated MVT hub in Hyderabad. This initiative aligns with the Union Budget’s announcement of five national hubs dedicated to medical tourism. The vision for this hub involves a greenfield medical city, slated for development under a public-private partnership model. This comprehensive complex would integrate various essential components:

  • Modern hospitals and specialized clinics.
  • Wellness providers and traditional healing centers.
  • Ayurvedic institutes and educational facilities.
  • Medical colleges and advanced research centers.
  • Comprehensive tourism facilitation services.

Following these extensive stakeholder consultations, a detailed recommendation paper will be prepared to guide the project’s implementation.

India’s Expanding Medical Value Travel Sector

India’s medical value travel sector continues its robust expansion, significantly bolstered by the national Heal in India initiative. Industry analyses project this market to reach USD 20.4 billion by 2026 and further expand to between USD 25–28 billion by 2030. This growth is primarily fueled by increasing global demand for affordable, high-quality care, enhanced visa facilitation processes, and the development of integrated care delivery models.

While traditional leaders like Delhi and Chennai have historically dominated the Indian medical tourism landscape, Hyderabad has consistently maintained its position among the nation’s top three healthcare destinations. With the establishment of the proposed TGMTS, the city now aims to ascend to a leadership role. Over the past decade, international patient inflows to Hyderabad have more than doubled, supported by a robust healthcare ecosystem featuring:

  • Over 50 hospitals accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers and Joint Commission International.
  • Approximately 12,000 hospital beds, offering extensive capacity.
  • Strong tertiary-care capabilities across a wide range of specialties.
  • Competitive accommodation options catering to diverse patient needs.
  • A well-developed tourism ecosystem that supports patient and attendant comfort.
  • Robust global connectivity via Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, which processes over 31 million passengers annually.

According to V. Kranthi, Managing Director of Telangana Tourism Development Corporation and Chairperson of the roundtable, “Hyderabad stands institutionally and operationally ready to scale as a globally trusted medical value tourism destination. With our integrated healthcare-hospitality-aviation ecosystem and clinical excellence, we are poised to lead as one of India’s five Regional Medical Value Tourism Hubs under the Union Budget 2026 vision.”

Shaaz Mehmood, an Industry Expert and Founder of Medijourn, who moderated the discussions, further elaborated, “Hyderabad’s advanced infrastructure, cost competitiveness, and integrated ecosystem make it ideally positioned as one of India’s five Regional Medical Value Tourism Hubs. The proposed Telangana Medical Tourism Society will be at the forefront of policy advocacy and enable joint international outreach.”

Bottom Line

This recent roundtable represents a critical milestone in formalizing Telangana’s medical tourism ecosystem. Through structured institutional coordination, strategic planning, and a clear vision for global positioning, the state is actively shaping its future as a premier healthcare destination.

  1. Strategic Coordination: The formation of the Telangana State Medical Tourism Society (TGMTS) is central to creating a unified, ethical, and globally competitive medical tourism framework.
  2. Infrastructure Development: Plans for an integrated Medical Value Tourism (MVT) hub in Hyderabad, a greenfield medical city, underscore a significant investment in expanding specialized healthcare and wellness infrastructure.
  3. Enhanced Global Positioning: By leveraging its existing strengths—clinical excellence, cost-effectiveness, and robust connectivity—Hyderabad aims to move beyond its established ranking to become a leading international patient travel destination, contributing substantially to India’s burgeoning medical tourism sector.