Frequently asked questions

Most flagship hospitals have on-site or nearby guest houses and partner hotels for companions. Service apartments are popular for longer stays. The international patient desk can usually arrange bookings before you arrive.

Yes. Indian hospitals routinely accommodate vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, and most allergen-free diets. Share your dietary requirements with the international desk in advance so the kitchen can prepare accordingly.

Use bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth. Reputable hospitals provide filtered water in patient rooms. Most hotels and service apartments offer sealed bottled water free or for a small charge.

JCI is an international hospital accreditation, recognised globally and held by a small number of Indian hospitals. NABH is the Indian national accreditation, widely held and meaningful for patient safety standards. Many Tier-A hospitals hold both.

JCI is a useful filter for international patients but not the only signal. NABH plus a strong specialty programme, high procedure volumes, and experienced surgeons can outweigh the absence of JCI for a specific procedure.

JCI maintains a public directory at jointcommissioninternational.org. NABH publishes its accredited hospital list at nabh.co. Cross-check the hospital name and accreditation expiry date before relying on it.

Most hospitals accept international credit cards, wire transfers, and in some cases USD cash up to declared limits. Get the package price in writing and clarify the deposit and final-settlement process before treatment starts.

Indian hospitals usually treat international patients on a self-pay basis and provide detailed invoices for you to claim reimbursement. A few have direct billing arrangements with specific international insurers - confirm with both your insurer and the hospital in advance.

The hospital will issue a discharge summary and follow-up plan. Most centres offer video consultations for follow-up reviews. Share the plan with your local doctor before you travel so they can take over routine monitoring.

Start by sharing your existing diagnosis and reports with two or three hospitals. Most flagship centres offer a free written second opinion. Compare the recommended procedure, the surgeon's rationale, and expected outcomes before committing.

Yes. Almost every Tier-A hospital in India offers a written second opinion based on emailed reports, usually within 3-7 working days. Use it to confirm the diagnosis and the proposed plan before booking travel.

Packages usually cover surgery, surgeon fees, anaesthesia, ICU and ward stay for a defined number of days, standard medication and consumables. Imaging, additional ICU days, implants outside the package, and follow-up after discharge are usually billed separately. Always request a written inclusion/exclusion list.

Most nationalities need a medical visa (M-Visa) or an e-Medical visa for treatment. The hospital invitation letter is mandatory. Many countries are eligible for the faster e-Medical visa - check the official Indian visa portal for your nationality.

Plan for the in-hospital stay plus a recovery and follow-up window before flying. Most procedures need 1-3 weeks total in-country; complex surgery and transplants need 4-8 weeks. Your hospital will issue a fit-to-fly certificate when you can travel.

Most Tier-A hospitals offer airport pickup as part of the international patient package. Confirm in writing before travel - including how to identify the driver and the contact number for the international patient desk.