What is Medical Tourism?
Travelling to another country for planned medical treatment — combining world-class care with cost savings, shorter waiting times and a chance to recover in comfort.
Healthcare without borders, explained simply.
Medical tourism is the practice of travelling outside your home country to receive medical, surgical or dental treatment. What began as a niche option for a few procedures has grown into a mainstream choice for millions of patients each year, driven by three forces: rising healthcare costs in Western nations, long waiting lists in public systems, and the emergence of internationally accredited hospitals in countries like India that deliver equivalent outcomes at a fraction of the price.
For a patient in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the Gulf or Africa, a knee replacement, cardiac bypass, kidney transplant or cancer surgery in India can cost 60 to 90 percent less than at home, including travel and accommodation. The surgeons are frequently trained in the same institutions abroad, the equipment is the same, and hospitals like SAL hold the same NABH and NABL accreditations that international insurers recognise.
Medical tourism is not only about savings. It is about access: getting the treatment you need this month rather than next year, seeing a specialist without a referral queue, and recovering in a private room with a dedicated care team rather than a crowded ward.
Why patients travel for treatment
The reasons are practical, and they add up.
Significant cost savings — often 60–90% lower than the US, UK or Gulf for the same procedure
No waiting lists — surgery can typically be scheduled within days of arrival
Internationally trained specialists with high procedure volumes and proven outcomes
NABH and NABL accredited hospitals meeting global quality and safety standards
Access to treatments not yet available or approved in the home country
Privacy and comfort — private rooms, personal care coordinators, family accommodation
English-speaking medical teams; interpreters for Arabic, French, Swahili and more
Combine treatment with recovery in a culturally rich, hospitable destination
The most sought-after treatments
How a typical medical journey unfolds
Frequently asked questions
Yes, when you choose an accredited hospital. SAL Hospital is NABH and NABL accredited, meaning our clinical protocols, infection control and patient safety systems are audited against international benchmarks. Our surgeons perform hundreds of procedures each year.
It depends on the procedure and your home country. As a guide, a knee replacement that costs USD 35,000–50,000 in the US is typically USD 5,000–7,000 at SAL, including hospital stay. Cardiac bypass surgery is often 80–90% lower. We provide a written estimate before you travel.
No. All our doctors and international desk staff speak English. We also arrange interpreters for Arabic, French, Swahili, Bengali and other languages on request.
We provide a detailed discharge summary for your local doctor, and our tele-consultation service lets you speak to your SAL specialist from home for as long as you need.
Absolutely. We help arrange visas and accommodation for attendants, and our private rooms include an attendant bed. Many patients find recovery easier with a familiar face nearby.