Tamil Nadu is not letting up on being one of the leading medical tourism hubs. As of October 2025, it has received more than 1.8 million international medical tourists, a figure that will expand even more as medical tourism becomes an integral part of India's healthcare and tourism sector. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian stressed that 25% of India's medical tourists come from Tamil Nadu as the state receives approximately 15 lakh foreign patients per year, thanks to world-class infrastructure, low-cost medical care, and expert professionals.
The latest Future of Medicine 2.0 conference, hosted by the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, is an important forum for debating the future of the medical tourism industry in India. The conference featured international delegates from nine nations, including the United States, Germany, Australia, and Qatar, reflecting increasing global interest in Tamil Nadu's healthcare services.
As part of the ongoing growth of medical tourism, telemedicine and digital health are becoming increasingly important, especially in a post-pandemic world. Tamil Nadu is well-positioned to lead in this area, offering remote consultations, virtual health services, and pre-surgery online assessments for international patients. Through these digital advancements, patients can consult doctors, share medical records, and schedule treatments from anywhere in the world.
The convenience of digital healthcare services allows medical tourists to engage in pre-travel consultations and follow-up care, increasing the accessibility and convenience of medical travel to Tamil Nadu. With the growing integration of AI and data analytics in healthcare, Tamil Nadu is poised to integrate these advancements into its medical tourism offerings, allowing it to stay at the forefront of global medical tourism.
With its state-of-the-art facilities, low-cost healthcare, and developing knowledge in medical wellness, Tamil Nadu is ready to keep achieving success as a top destination for international medical tourism. The state's focus on the convergence of wellness with contemporary healthcare, coupled with robust infrastructure, attracts medical tourists from all over the globe.
As increasingly more destinations search for low-cost, high-quality healthcare, Tamil Nadu will continue to be the bedrock of India's medical tourism sector, providing patients not only state-of-the-art treatments but an overall wellness experience that combines cutting-edge medicine with the rich cultural heritage and traditional healing systems of the region.