Page 23 - NIS English 1-15 June, 2026

Cover Story

Years
of Vikas Yatra

Medical Tourism
n In the year 2025, 507,244 foreign nationals arrived specifically for medical treatment.
n The medical tourism market is projected to grow to $16.2 billion by the year 2030.
n E-Medical Visa and E-Medical Attendant Visa facilities have been extended to 172 countries.

According to the Medical Tourism Index 2020-21...
n India ranks 10th globally among the top 46 medical tourism destinations.
n Ranks 12th among the world’s top 20 wellness tourism markets.
n Ranks 5th among the top 10 healthcare destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Affordable and Quality Medicines

19,200 Quality generic medicines are available at
affordable prices through the Pradhan Mantri
Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) at
Janaushadhi Kendras (centers).

n More than 2,100 medicines and 315 surgical products are available
at these centers, sold at rates 50-90% lower than market prices.
40,000 Crore saved by the common

Approximately people due to access to
affordable medicines.

National Health Policy, 2017
Reduced Finan- n On March 15, 2017, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister
cial Burden Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet approved the National
n Out-of-pocket Health Policy, 2017. Its objective is universal access to health
expenditure on through a comprehensive healthcare policy and to provide high-
healthcare treatment has quality healthcare services without any financial hardship.
decreased from 62.6%
in 2014-15 to 39.4% in Milestones
2020-21. The Ayushman n India was declared Polio-free in 2014
Bharat Pradhan Mantri n Elimination of neonatal tetanus in
Jan Arogya Yojana has 2015.
played a significant role
in this achievement. n In 2024, the World Health
Organization (WHO) declared India
free of trachoma.
n India is also moving towards the
elimination of Kala-azar in the
near future.