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Updated 2026 · International patient guide

Medical tourism,
without the guesswork.

14–16 million patients now travel internationally for treatment every year, saving 40–80% versus US prices at accredited hospitals. This is the data, the destinations, and the step-by-step plan.

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14–16M

Patients per year

Cross-border medical travelers worldwide

Patients Beyond Borders, 2024

$80–90B

Global market size

Annual medical tourism revenue

Medical Tourism Association, 2024

40–80%

Typical cost savings

All-in vs US list prices at accredited hospitals

MTA / PBB, 2024

1,200+

JCI-accredited hospitals

Across 70+ countries meeting Joint Commission International standards

JCI, 2024

1,795

Class A hospitals (China)

Top-tier facilities ≥900/1000 NHC quality score

NHC China, 2024

21 days

Median trip length

Including pre-op workup, procedure and recovery

Industry data, 2024

What is medical tourism

One in every 500
patients now flies
across borders for care.

Medical tourism is the practice of traveling internationally to receive medical, dental or surgical care. It is driven by four economic facts: lower direct costs, shorter wait times, access to procedures not yet approved at home, and concentration of expertise at specialised centres of excellence.

The Patients Beyond Borders 2024 report puts the global market at $80–90 billion. The Medical Tourism Association tracks 14–16 million annual cross-border patients, with growth concentrated in Asia (China, Thailand, India, South Korea), the Middle East (UAE, Turkey), and Latin America (Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia).

Panda Touring Care is a medical tourism coordinator focused on China — the destination with the deepest clinical volumes (~9.55 billion outpatient visits/year), the most aggressive cost compression (50–70% versus US averages), and the most active regenerative-medicine pipeline outside the United States.

Top destinations

The 8 destinations that
account for 80% of
medical tourism volume.

🇨🇳 China

Stem cell & regenerative medicine, oncology, orthopedics

Typical procedure cost: $5–24k

Class A tertiary, JCI

🇹🇭 Thailand

Cosmetic, gender-affirming, cardiac

Typical procedure cost: $8–25k

JCI (62+ hospitals)

🇮🇳 India

Cardiac, orthopedic, IVF, cancer

Typical procedure cost: $5–18k

JCI / NABH

🇸🇬 Singapore

Oncology, advanced diagnostics, transplants

Typical procedure cost: $25–80k

JCI / MOH

🇹🇷 Turkey

Hair transplant, cosmetic, dental, IVF

Typical procedure cost: $2–12k

JCI (35+ hospitals)

🇲🇽 Mexico

Bariatric, dental, cosmetic

Typical procedure cost: $4–15k

JCI / FSSA

🇰🇷 South Korea

Plastic surgery, dermatology, oncology

Typical procedure cost: $3–40k

JCI / KIMA

🇲🇾 Malaysia

Cardiology, fertility, general surgery

Typical procedure cost: $4–18k

MSQH / JCI

Panda Touring Care specialises in China. For comparative country data see the destinations guide.

Cost comparison

What procedures actually cost,
country by country.

All figures are 2024–2025 averages from published industry data and partner hospital quotes. Costs include the procedure but not international airfare.

United States
China
India
Thailand
Turkey
Hip replacement
$40,000–$65,000
$5,500–$9,000
$7,000–$12,000
$11,000–$14,000
$10,000–$13,000
Coronary bypass (CABG)
$70,000–$200,000
$8,000–$18,000
$7,000–$10,000
$15,000–$25,000
$13,000–$18,000
Stem cell therapy (autologous MSC)
$30,000–$80,000
$8,400–$24,000
$10,000–$18,000
$15,000–$25,000
$8,000–$15,000
IVF cycle
$15,000–$25,000
$4,000–$7,000
$3,000–$5,000
$7,000–$10,000
$2,500–$5,000
Dental implant (per tooth)
$3,000–$6,000
$800–$1,800
$500–$1,200
$1,500–$2,500
$400–$900

Sources: Patients Beyond Borders 2024, Medical Tourism Association, NHC China, internal Panda Touring Care quotes. Individual costs vary by hospital, protocol and patient complexity.

How to plan

Seven steps from diagnosis
to safe homecoming.

Step 1

Diagnosis & records

Obtain a written diagnosis, current imaging (MRI/CT/X-ray), labs and operative reports from your home physician.

Step 2

Destination shortlist

Match your procedure to 2–3 destinations based on accreditation, language support, cost, and visa accessibility.

Step 3

Hospital second opinions

Submit records to international patient departments. Expect itemized quotes and named surgeons within 5–7 business days.

Step 4

Medical visa

Apply for the appropriate medical visa using the hospital's invitation letter. Allow 5–15 business days.

Step 5

Travel insurance

Secure a policy that covers medical evacuation and complications abroad. Standard travel insurance is not sufficient.

Step 6

Treatment & recovery

On-site stays typically run 7–21 days for elective surgery, 14–28 days for cellular and complex oncology protocols.

Step 7

Follow-up

Ensure a 12-month remote follow-up plan with the operating surgeon before you fly home, including secure imaging upload.

Frequently asked

Everything patients ask before booking abroad.

What is medical tourism?
Medical tourism is the practice of traveling internationally to receive medical, dental or surgical care — typically driven by lower costs, shorter wait times, access to treatments not available locally, or higher quality of care at specialised centres of excellence. The Patients Beyond Borders 2024 report estimates 14–16 million patients travel for treatment each year, generating a global market of roughly $80–90 billion.
Which are the top medical tourism destinations in 2026?
The most established destinations are Thailand, Singapore, India, Turkey, Mexico, South Korea, Malaysia, the UAE, and — increasingly — China. Selection depends on procedure: Thailand and India lead on cost; Singapore, South Korea and China lead on advanced technology and oncology; Mexico and Costa Rica dominate North American dental and bariatric markets; Turkey is the global leader in hair transplants and cosmetic surgery.
How much money can you save with medical tourism?
Independent data from Patients Beyond Borders and the Medical Tourism Association show typical savings of 40–80% versus US list prices, all-in (procedure, travel and accommodation). For example, a hip replacement averages $40,000–$65,000 in the US, $5,500–$9,000 in China, $7,000–$12,000 in India, and $11,000–$14,000 in Thailand.
Is medical tourism safe?
Care at JCI-accredited hospitals or top-tier national-standard facilities (e.g. China's Class A 三级甲等 tertiary hospitals) consistently meets or exceeds Western quality benchmarks. The CDC notes the principal risks are post-operative complications during long-haul travel and continuity of care after returning home — both of which are mitigated by working with an accredited coordinator who arranges a 24-hour pre-flight clearance and 12-month follow-up.
What treatments are most popular in medical tourism?
The top categories are: orthopedics (hip and knee replacement), cardiology (bypass, valve replacement, stenting), oncology, fertility (IVF), dental (implants and full-mouth restoration), bariatric and cosmetic surgery, ophthalmology (LASIK, cataract), and regenerative medicine (stem cell therapy). Stem cell therapy specifically has become a major driver of inbound traffic to China and Japan because the protocols are licenced and operating in those jurisdictions.
How do you plan a medical tourism trip?
(1) Get a written diagnosis and medical records from your home physician. (2) Choose a destination based on procedure, accreditation and language. (3) Submit records to 2–3 hospitals for second opinions and itemized quotes. (4) Apply for the appropriate medical visa (e.g. China M-visa, India MED visa). (5) Arrange travel insurance covering medical evacuation. (6) Book travel + accommodation through your coordinator. (7) Plan a 7–21 day on-site stay depending on procedure. (8) Confirm a 12-month remote follow-up protocol before flying home.
Do I need a special visa for medical tourism?
Most destinations require a dedicated medical visa. China issues the M-visa, India the MED/MED X visa, Thailand a Non-Immigrant O visa for medical purposes, and the UAE a Patient Entry Permit. All require a hospital invitation letter, appointment confirmation and recent medical records. Processing typically takes 5–15 business days.
Does insurance cover medical tourism?
US Medicare and most domestic plans do not cover overseas elective treatment. However, several global insurers — Cigna Global, Bupa Global, Allianz Care, GeoBlue — offer plans that explicitly include accredited overseas providers. Some self-funded employers (notably Hannaford, Lowe's and the State of Maine) operate medical-travel benefit programs that fully cover surgery abroad plus a cash incentive.

Explore the cluster

Medical Tourism in China

1,795 Class A hospitals, 50–70% savings vs US, leader in regenerative medicine. The deep guide.

Read the guide

Cost Comparisons

Real itemized prices for 25+ procedures across China, India, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico and more.

See costs

Top Destinations

Compare the 8 leading medical tourism countries by specialty, accreditation, language, and visa.

Compare destinations

Step-by-Step Planner

From obtaining records to 12-month follow-up — every step in the patient journey, with timelines.

Plan your trip

Safety & Quality

JCI accreditation, China Class A standards, infection rates, and how to evaluate any overseas hospital.

Read on safety

Treatments Catalog

Condition-by-condition guide to stem cell therapy, orthopedic, oncology and more — outcomes, timeline, candidacy.

View treatments

Talk to a medical tourism
coordinator — free.

A 30-minute video consultation with one of our physicians is free. We’ll review your case, recommend a destination, and walk you through itemized pricing for at least two partner hospitals.

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