Conflict in West Asia Slows India’s Medical Tourism Recovery Amid Flight and Visa Disruptions
मुख्य बातें
- •India’s $9-billion medical tourism sector is still recovering from disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict, with patient arrivals from the region well below pre-crisis levels.
- •Fortis Healthcare reported a 30% decline in international footfall during the initial phase of the conflict, with patient arrivals from West Asia dropping sharply in early March.
- •HealthCare Global Enterprises saw a 60%–70% decline in patient volumes from West Asian countries between March and May 2026 compared to the same period last year.
- •Max Healthcare observed reduced patient arrivals from key West Asian markets, including Iraq, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
- •Apollo Hospitals noted stable patient inflows from the Middle East but warned of rising operating costs due to inflation and currency fluctuations linked to the ongoing conflict.
Chennai: India’s medical tourism sector, valued at nearly $9 billion, is still grappling with the fallout of the ongoing West Asia conflict, as patient inflows from the region remain well below pre-crisis levels. The West Asia region has historically been a major contributor to India’s medical tourism market, accounting for a significant share of international patients seeking advanced and cost-effective healthcare. While some early signs of recovery have emerged, hospital operators report that arrivals have not rebounded to the volumes seen before the conflict escalated earlier this year.
