Iran-Israel war hits India's medical tourism, 50-75% drop in international patients

The prolonged Iran-Israel war has severely impacted India's booming medical tourism sector, with hospital chains reporting a 50 to 75 percent drop in international patient inflows. The decline is most significant from West Asian countries including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Yemen, which were traditionally major sources of medical tourists. 

Fortis Healthcare expects a 15 percent to 20 percent revenue hit for March, whilst Artemis Hospital has reported a 35 percent dip



in revenue in its international segment. India's medical tourism sector, valued at approximately 6.5 billion dollars in 2022, is projected to surpass 13 billion dollars by 2026. The sector has thrived due to India's clinical talent, global connectivity, quality healthcare and affordable pricing compared to Western markets. Despite the significant drop, hospitals report that patients with critical illnesses continue to travel for treatment, though overall traffic has reduced by approximately 50 percent.