The ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict has significantly impacted India’s medical tourism sector, with leading hospital chains reporting a steep decline of 50-75% in overseas patient arrivals over the past two weeks.
Major hospital groups such as Fortis Healthcare, Artemis Hospitals, and Marengo Asia Hospitals have witnessed a sharp fall in international footfall, particularly from Middle Eastern countries including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and Yemen traditionally key contributors to India’s medical value travel segment.
According to Fortis Healthcare, international patient numbers have dropped by over 30% across cities since the conflict began, with a comparison between late February and early March showing a dramatic 75% decline in patients from the Middle East. The group estimates a 15-20% impact on overall revenue for the current month, with concerns that losses could deepen if the situation persists.
Travel disruptions have compounded the issue, as airspace closures and flight suspensions have reduced connectivity across the region. Rising airfares up by 15-25% have further discouraged patients from travelling to India for treatment.
Industry leaders note a 40-60% drop in Medical Value Travel (MVT) from affected regions, with many patients postponing non-essential procedures amid uncertainty. Hospitals have also reported a complete halt in new patient registrations from the Middle East in recent days.
Patients from the region typically visit India for complex treatments such as transplants, cardiac care, neurology, oncology, and urology. However, elective procedures including cosmetic, implant, and geriatric treatments have been hit the hardest as patients defer travel.
Hospital groups are now shifting focus to alternative markets such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central Asia to offset losses. While Apollo Hospitals indicated that African patient inflow may also face short-term disruptions, it remains optimistic about expanding outreach in countries like Indonesia, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.
Experts suggest that recovery in medical tourism will depend on the stabilization of geopolitical conditions and restoration of travel confidence. Based on past trends, the sector may take two to three months to recover once normalcy returns.