Rahul Bhargava, Director and Head of Hematology, Hematooncology, and Stem Cell Transplant at Fortis Health Care, shared on LinkedIn:
“India’s medical value travel advantage needs a coordinated national strategy.
My recent travels across Southeast Asia and the CIS region, together with interactions involving Kazakhstan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Vietnam, have been rewarding. There is considerable cultural warmth towards India and a clear opportunity for Indian healthcare to contribute through clinical expertise, strong outcomes and affordable treatment.
But one observation deserves our attention: China is becoming increasingly visible as a healthcare destination in these markets.
In my interactions, three factors stood out: investment that builds relationships with partner countries, easier travel and visa access, and sustained promotion of medical innovation. These efforts appear to be strengthening China’s appeal to patients seeking treatment abroad.
Cancer care illustrates the challenge. China’s expanding activity in CAR-T and other advanced therapies creates a powerful perception of scientific ambition. Patients and referring clinicians increasingly notice countries that make innovation visible and access straightforward.
India has substantial strengths: experienced clinicians, advanced hospitals, internationally recognised expertise and competitive treatment costs. Turning these strengths into sustained leadership requires collective action.
Government, hospitals, clinicians, researchers and international partners must work together to simplify medical visas, strengthen referral networks, support responsible innovation and communicate independently verifiable outcomes. Transparent pricing, ethical counselling and reliable follow-up after patients return home must underpin that effort.
We should also invest in partnerships that strengthen healthcare within these countries through training, shared expertise and continuity of care. Lasting trust grows when the relationship extends beyond a hospital admission.
China’s rise in manufacturing offers a lesson in what sustained investment and coordinated execution can achieve. We should recognise the possibility of a similar shift in medical value travel.
India has the talent and capability. The question is whether we can match them with the policy, coordination and sustained commitment needed to lead.
The next chapter of medical value travel is being written now. India must help shape it.”
Other posts featuring Rahul Bhargava on OncoDaily.