Telangana Tourism organised a high-level roundtable bringing together senior representatives from government and industry to deliberate on the institutional role, governance structure and long-term direction of the proposed Telangana State Medical Tourism Society (TGMTS). The discussion also examined a strategic framework for establishing an integrated Medical Value Tourism (MVT) Hub in Hyderabad, positioning Telangana as a leading destination for structured and coordinated medical tourism.
The first session focused on industry expectations from TGMTS as the proposed central coordinating body for Medical Value Tourism in Telangana. Deliberations explored its envisioned role in stakeholder alignment, facilitation, governance and long-term sectoral coordination. Participants highlighted Hyderabad’s competitive strengths, including strong clinical outcomes, advanced healthcare infrastructure, cost advantages and a seamless healthcare–hospitality–aviation ecosystem, which together position the city to capture a larger share of the global medical tourism market.
Key recommendations emphasised the establishment of the Telangana Medical Tourism Society to drive policy advocacy, global branding, international outreach, ethical self-regulation and unified industry representation. Stakeholders called for a comprehensive framework featuring transparent grievance redressal mechanisms, structured familiarisation programmes for international delegates and a formal licensing system for facilitators to ensure ethical practices, credibility and consistent patient experiences.
The second session focused on a detailed framework for creating an integrated MVT Hub in Hyderabad, proposed as one of the five national Medical Value Tourism hubs outlined in the Union Budget. Discussions centred on developing a greenfield medical city under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, integrating hospitals, wellness providers, Ayurveda institutes, medical colleges, research centres and tourism facilitation services. A detailed recommendation paper will be prepared to advance the proposal.
India’s medical value travel sector continues to expand under the national Heal in India initiative, with industry estimates projecting the market to reach USD 20.4 billion by 2026 and USD 25–28 billion by 2030. Growth is being driven by rising global demand, improved visa facilitation and integrated care delivery models.
While Delhi and Chennai have traditionally led the sector, Hyderabad has consistently ranked among India’s top three medical value travel destinations and now seeks to move into a leadership position through the proposed TGMTS framework. International patient inflows to the city have more than doubled over the past decade, supported by more than 50 NABH- and JCI-accredited hospitals, approximately 12,000 hospital beds, strong tertiary-care capabilities, competitive accommodation options and a well-developed tourism ecosystem. The city’s global connectivity is further strengthened by Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, which handles over 31 million passengers annually.
Chairperson of the roundtable discussion, Ms V. Kranthi, Managing Director, Telangana Tourism Development Corporation, stated, “Hyderabad stands institutionally and operationally ready to scale as a globally trusted medical value tourism destination. With our integrated healthcare–hospitality–aviation ecosystem and clinical excellence, we are poised to lead as one of India’s five Regional Medical Value Tourism Hubs under the Union Budget 2026 vision.”
Moderator of the roundtable discussion, Mr Shaaz Mehmood, industry expert and Founder of Medijourn, added, “Hyderabad’s advanced infrastructure, cost competitiveness and integrated ecosystem make it ideally positioned as one of India’s five Regional Medical Value Tourism Hubs. The proposed Telangana Medical Tourism Society will play a pivotal role in policy advocacy and enabling coordinated international outreach.”
With strong institutional backing and industry alignment, Telangana is charting a structured roadmap to elevate Hyderabad’s global standing in Medical Value Tourism and drive sustainable sectoral growth.
