If you believe some internet sources, medical tourism begins and ends with planes full of middle-aged men returning from abroad with bandage-wrapped heads, having made vacations out of their elective hair plug surgeries. While that imagery may be comical and even realistic, the medical tourism industry today encompasses much more.
As of 2024, the international medical tourism market was estimated to be worth $31.09 billion, a market value expected to grow to $87.33 billion by 2030. But those numbers aren’t based only on elective cosmetic surgeries. In Brazil, for example, neurosurgery and cardiac surgery are among the most popular procedures, especially in pediatric cases, according to Veridiana Penteado Cordaro, executive director of Medicine and Technical Development at A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo. Other procedures in demand include aerodigestive surgery and gynecology, especially endometriosis treatment.
In India, meanwhile, medical tourists undergo procedures in oncology, cardiac care, organ transplantation, hematology and bone marrow, neurosciences, orthopedics, renal sciences, gastro sciences and pediatrics, among others, said Anil Vinayak, group chief operating officer at India’s Fortis Healthcare Limited, a popular destination in medical tourism.
Earlier this month, Newsweek and data partner Statista published the World’s Best Smart Hospitals for 2026, which ranks the top hospitals for medical tourism around the world. Newsweek spoke with leaders at hospitals in Brazil and India to explore the impact medical tourism is having on the global health care industry and to discover which procedures include innovative, life-saving technologies.
Brazil Welcomes Medical Tourists
Brazil is a leading destination in medical tourism care because of its use of innovative technology. But many patients flock to Latin America’s largest country for care that goes beyond that technology: Brazil is known for its friendliness and warmth. In fact, a 2024 report found that Brazilian locals are the friendliest towards foreign visitors, and patients come from around the globe seeking the country’s high-quality care with a human side.
Cordaro told Newsweek, “In Brazil’s case, [there is the] added bonus of a warm and welcoming culture. It is, therefore, a phenomenon that combines the search for clinical excellence with the appreciation of a complete experience, in which the patient finds both technical safety and empathy in care.”
Most of Brazil’s medical tourists come from the United States, Cordaro said, “particularly Florida, as well as from countries such as Uruguay, Portugal, Paraguay and Angola.”
However, even with Brazil’s high levels of technological innovation and especially welcoming atmosphere, patients can face multiple challenges when uprooting their lives by traveling to a foreign country for medical care. Those challenges can include a smaller social support network outside their own country, cultural and language barriers, and the need for air travel in the postoperative period – all of which can cause discomfort and even increase certain clinical risks, Cordaro noted.
At Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo and other Brazilian hospitals that offer medical care to international patients, specific programs have been implemented to provide additional support to those receiving care far from home.
“[A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo] offers a care model that integrates cost-effectiveness, access to cutting-edge technology, and a patient-centered logistics structure, with concierge services, multilingual support, and partnerships with operators,” Cordaro said. “This approach allows foreign patient to find not only excellent treatment but a complete care journey, designed to be safe, effective and welcoming.”
Extending this level of care to medical tourists can have an impact on providers as well. “The most surprising aspect of medical tourism is experiencing firsthand the patients’ stories and the emotion they express when achieving positive results after undergoing often complex treatments,” Cordaro continued. “These accounts reveal not only the trust placed in our institution but also the joy and transformative impact that excellence in medicine can bring to people’s lives and their families.”
India’s Economy Is Growing, Thanks to Medical Tourism
The medical tourism industry has long been a big part of India’s health care sector. But recent travel trends show that a major shift is occurring, and that’s who is travelling to the country’s medical tourism hubs.
That change has begun affecting the systems of the country. “We see a consistent and strong inflow of international patients primarily from regions such as Africa, the Middle East, [the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)], [the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)] and Southeast Asia,” Vinayak told Newsweek. “A significant surge in Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) returning to India from developed nations for medical treatments, driven by lower health care costs and enhanced insurance options, has been observed,” he added.
In cities like Lucknow and Ahmedabad, the medical tourism industry is pivoting specifically to host these international patients, offering more affordable treatments and incorporating initiatives to help make their experience as seamless as possible.
“Traveling abroad for treatment can involve logistical stress, cultural differences, language barriers and difficulties in post-operative follow-up care. For hospitals, managing international patient flows can be impacted by visa policies, geopolitical instability and sudden market disruptions,” Vinayak said.
“To mitigate these issues, institutions like Fortis have built dedicated International Patient Services teams that provide end-to-end support, from visa facilitation and travel coordination to translation services and virtual follow-up consultations—ensuring a safe, seamless and reassuring patient experience.”
These changes seem to be paying off for both patients and care providers, boosting the economy and creating an overall better hospital experience in India. “Medical tourism has significantly boosted India’s health care sector and economy,” Vinayak said. “It has driven investment in advanced hospital infrastructure and world-class facilities, raising the quality of care overall.”
That investment has also created jobs not only in health care but also in related industries like hospitality, travel and patient services. Overall, he said, medical tourism “has helped position India as a trusted global health care destination.”
Care Abroad, No Matter the Reason
Whether patients choose to seek care in Brazil, India or another country offering high-quality treatment options, medical tourists today can benefit from advancements in the fast-evolving industry. Additionally, cultures promoting warmth and inclusion, and growing economies that aim to maximize the experience for international patients, mean that medical tourists today have options for choosing the best possible care. When it comes to health care today, medical tourism has become one of the world’s most advanced options, allowing patients to receive the care they need, no matter where they live.
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