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Beyond Jewar: Why India's Medical Value Travel Strategy Needs 'Complementary Regional Healthcare Hubs' Like Varanasi


A policy perspective on India's evolving Medical Value Travel ecosystem.
The Uttar Pradesh Government's recent announcement to develop a Regional Medical Hub at Jewar marks an important step towards strengthening India's Medical Value Travel (MVT) ecosystem. The initiative aligns well with the Union Government's Budget 2026 vision of developing five Medical Value Travel hubs across the country, recognising healthcare not only as a public service but also as a strategic economic sector.

MVT: Where India Stands?

India's healthcare ecosystem is already gaining global recognition. According to Government of India data, over 5.07 lakh foreign nationals visited India specifically for medical treatment in 2025, accounting for nearly 5.5% of all foreign tourist arrivals. The global Medical Value Travel market, valued at around USD 115.6 billion in 2022, is projected to reach approximately USD 286 billion by 2030. India today attracts patients from Bangladesh, Nepal, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Turkmenistan, Oman, Kenya, the Maldives and several African and Central Asian nations, supported by internationally accredited hospitals, skilled clinicians and affordable, high-quality healthcare.

Current Regions of MVT India

At present, international patient inflow is concentrated around well-established healthcare ecosystems such as Delhi NCR, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi. These cities have evolved beyond hospital clusters into integrated healthcare ecosystems supported by medical education, diagnostics, research, aviation connectivity, hospitality and specialised healthcare services.

Why Jewar as one of Next Healthcare Hubs?

Against this backdrop, Jewar is a logical and timely choice. With the upcoming international airport, proximity to Delhi NCR, expanding healthcare infrastructure and excellent connectivity, it has the potential to emerge as the principal Medical Value Travel gateway for Western Uttar Pradesh, complementing the existing healthcare ecosystem of the National Capital Region.

Complementary Regional Healthcare Hubs like Varanasi

As India expands its Medical Value Travel strategy, the next opportunity may lie in developing complementary regional healthcare hubs, rather than concentrating growth in a handful of metropolitan centres.

From that perspective, Varanasi presents a compelling long-term opportunity.

Situated at the crossroads of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and with proximity to Nepal, Varanasi serves a vast healthcare catchment. The city already possesses several strategic strengths—a growing tertiary healthcare ecosystem, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), expanding international air connectivity, a rich AYUSH and wellness heritage, and global recognition as one of India's most visited cultural destinations. Together, these strengths provide a strong foundation for a future regional Medical Value Travel hub serving Eastern Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring regions.

The West-East Strength

Such a model would not position Jewar and Varanasi as competing centres, but as complementary healthcare gateways—one strengthening Western Uttar Pradesh and the other enhancing healthcare access and international patient outreach across Eastern Uttar Pradesh and adjoining geographies.

In my view, India's next phase of Medical Value Travel is not merely about building more hospitals. It is about creating integrated regional healthcare ecosystems, where healthcare infrastructure, medical education, research, diagnostics, digital health, AYUSH, hospitality, aviation, logistics and policy work together.

Regional Strengths boosts Sustainable Healthcare Ecosystems 

As India advances towards becoming a global healthcare destination, success will increasingly depend on effective collaboration among governments, healthcare providers, academic institutions, industry associations, investors and international partners. Understanding regional strengths and aligning them with national priorities can help create sustainable healthcare ecosystems that benefit patients, strengthen healthcare access and enhance India's global competitiveness.

What are your thoughts? Could a complementary regional hub model—Jewar for Western Uttar Pradesh and Varanasi for Eastern Uttar Pradesh—help strengthen India's long-term Medical Value Travel strategy? Discuss on my Linkedin post

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's independent analysis based on publicly available information.

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