Tuesday, July 1, 2025
In a candid and deeply human interview, Sonam Garg, CEO and Founder of Medical Linkers, lays out a bold vision for India’s place in the global medical tourism industry. Drawing on her personal journey of loss and resilience, she describes how India is uniquely positioned to not just compete—but lead—a fiercely competitive global market that includes established players like Mexico and Thailand.
Sonam argues that while Mexico and Thailand focus heavily on cosmetic and dental procedures, India’s strength lies in high-complexity medical care, such as organ transplants, cardiac interventions, and advanced cancer treatments like CyberKnife and Proton Therapy. These sophisticated procedures, coupled with globally recognized doctors and cost-effective solutions, set India apart. In 2024 alone, India issued over 464,000 medical visas, a signal that the world increasingly views the country not merely as a budget option but as a true center of medical excellence.
Acknowledging that international patients face daunting logistical challenges—from language barriers to fears about safety—Sonam explains how Medical Linkers bridges these gaps. Their services go far beyond mere logistics; they provide second opinions, visa assistance, multilingual interpreters, emotional support, and crucial post-operative care. Sonam emphasizes that healing is not an event but a continuum, where empathy and patient comfort are as vital as clinical outcomes.
Moreover, Sonam sees wellness tourism as an integral extension of medical travel. Unlike destinations like Thailand and Bali, which often market wellness as luxury spa experiences, India offers deeply rooted, authentic pathways based on centuries-old traditions. From Ayurvedic retreats in Kerala to meditation programs in the Himalayas, India’s holistic approach transforms recovery into complete physical, emotional, and spiritual renewal. Medical Linkers is working to package these authentic experiences into structured wellness pathways tailored for international visitors, positioning India as a leader in holistic health rather than merely a competitor.
Sonam is acutely aware of India’s lingering challenges, including outdated stereotypes about its healthcare system, concerns about hospital overcrowding, and fragmented infrastructure. Yet she’s confident the tide is turning. Medical Linkers focuses on storytelling through real patient experiences—like a Nigerian father’s daughter who walked again after spinal surgery in India, or a Filipino woman who found life-saving treatment previously denied to her at home. These human stories are pivotal in transforming perceptions of India from a place of uncertainty to one of hope and high-quality medical outcomes.
Beyond individual patient care, Medical Linkers also plays a strategic role in elevating India’s global reputation by facilitating knowledge exchange programs and supporting partnerships with leading hospitals such as Apollo and Manipal. They stand as a pioneer in professionalizing and structuring an industry that was historically fragmented and opaque.
Ultimately, Sonam’s mission is deeply personal but globally impactful. Medical Linkers is not just about facilitating medical travel; it’s about delivering hope, compassion, and dignity to patients from over 30 countries. Her vision signals a new era where India emerges as a powerhouse of both advanced medicine and authentic wellness, rewriting the global map of healthcare tourism.
India has the potential to become a global leader in medical tourism, but competition from countries like Mexico and Thailand is fierce. What specific strategies do you have in place to make India the #1 destination in the next few years, and how do you plan to outmaneuver these established giants in an increasingly crowded market?
India has the potential to lead global medical tourism not just by matching others, but by offering something they don’t. While Mexico and Thailand are strong players, much of their focus lies in cosmetic and dental treatments. India, on the other hand, has become the go-to destination for complex, critical surgeries, from organ transplants and cardiac care to advanced cancer treatments like CyberKnife, Proton Therapy, and AI-driven adaptive radiation. What sets India apart is not just cost-effectiveness but clinical depth. Our doctors are globally recognized, with years of experience in treating patients from across continents. At Medical Linkers, we pair this medical expertise with seamless service, second opinions, visa assistance, post-op care, and cultural comfort. The world is noticing. With over 464,000 medical visas issued in 2024, the trust is growing. India is no longer just an affordable option, it’s a centre of medical excellence built on experience, empathy, and innovation.
You’ve been instrumental in promoting India as a medical tourism hub, but international patients often face logistical challenges when choosing destinations. How do you address the concerns about quality assurance, language barriers, and post-treatment care in India, especially when compared to countries with long-established reputations for medical tourism?
Choosing to fly to another country for treatment is one of the most vulnerable decisions a patient will ever make. There’s fear, of the unknown, of language, of what happens if things go wrong. At Medical Linkers, we treat this decision with the gravity it deserves, and that means building trust at every stage. India’s hospitals today meet and often exceed global standards. Our partner institutions are accredited by JCI and NABH, and our clinicians are not only skilled but deeply attuned to the emotional needs of international patients. Still, we know that world-class treatment isn’t enough if the patient doesn’t feel heard or understood. That’s why we ensure that every language, from Arabic to French to Russian, is spoken through trained interpreters, but more importantly, we ensure patients feel emotionally safe in their journey. Aftercare is where many systems falter. But our commitment doesn’t end when the surgery does. Whether it’s post-operative rehab, virtual consults, or coordinating with doctors back home, we remain a part of the healing process. Because healing is not an event, it’s a continuum. And quality, for us, is not just in outcomes, but in how the patient feels every step of the way.
You mentioned expanding the wellness tourism sector alongside medical tourism. Given the growing trend of global wellness travel, what differentiates India’s wellness offerings from countries like Thailand and Bali, and what are the practical steps you’re taking to ensure that India doesn’t just become a competitor, but a global leader in holistic health experiences?
Wellness is not a trend in India, it’s a way of life rooted in thousands of years of tradition. In a world that is rediscovering holistic health, India is the original teacher. And as the world shifts toward preventive and integrative care, our wellness tourism is evolving, not as an alternative to medical tourism but as an extension of it. Unlike destinations that treat wellness as spa indulgence, India offers an authentic, deeply personalized experience. A patient who comes to India for cancer care might choose to extend their recovery in Kerala’s Ayurvedic retreats or embark on a mental wellness journey in a Himalayan yoga center. What we offer is not just recuperation but renewal, physical, emotional, and spiritual. We’re creating curated wellness pathways that blend medical check-ins with nutrition, detox, and therapy, all tailored for international sensibilities. India is ready to lead, not because we’re mimicking Bali or Thailand, but because we’re rediscovering and repackaging our own heritage to meet the world where it is. This isn’t competition; it’s cultural leadership.
With your extensive experience in establishing clinics and offices for healthcare providers internationally, how do you plan to overcome the cultural perceptions that still exist around Indian healthcare—particularly when it comes to concerns about safety, quality of care, and treatment outcomes for foreign patients?
For many, the perception of Indian healthcare is still tinted by outdated stereotypes, overcrowded hospitals, inconsistent quality, safety concerns. But the reality today is far more dynamic and progressive. And the way we change perceptions is not by telling, but by showing, through every patient story we help write. We’ve had patients walk into Indian hospitals unsure and walk out not only healed but transformed. A father from Nigeria who couldn’t afford treatment back home saw his daughter walk again after spinal surgery. A woman from the Philippines, told her condition was untreatable, found a new lease on life through a liver transplant in Delhi. These aren’t just stories of our patients, they’re testaments to India’s capability and humanity. Our hospitals now rival the best globally. But infrastructure alone isn’t the differentiator, it’s the cultural sensitivity embedded into our care model. From meals to multilingual staff and sensitive medical teams, we ensure that comfort goes hand-in-hand with care. Safety, quality, empathy, they aren’t separate pillars anymore. They’re the foundation of modern Indian healthcare. And we’re proud to be part of that narrative shift.
As a passionate advocate for making India a healthcare tourism powerhouse, do you think India’s current infrastructure and regulatory landscape are truly ready to handle the expected surge in foreign patients, or will this push to dominate the sector face significant barriers like outdated healthcare systems, overcrowded hospitals, or lack of coordination between providers?
As someone deeply invested in India’s future as a healthcare destination, I can say with conviction: yes, we are ready, but we must keep evolving. India treated 7.3 million foreign patients and generated nearly $7.7 billion in medical tourism revenue in 2024, a number expected to cross $13.4 billion by 2026. The infrastructure is scaling rapidly. Specialty hospitals are emerging in Tier 2 and 3 cities. The government’s “Heal in India” campaign, streamlined visa processes, and digital health initiatives are removing bureaucratic friction. But readiness isn’t just about numbers. It’s about resilience and coordination. There are challenges, yes including fragmented ecosystems but those are precisely the gaps we’re helping bridge. By integrating care networks, vetting partner facilities, and supporting patients through every transition, we’re creating a more coordinated system, one that can scale without sacrificing soul. India has the obligation to make healthcare affordable, accessible, and deeply human for the world. And that’s the future we at Medical Linkers are committed to building, one patient journey at a time.
Medical Linkers was founded in 2012 and formally established in 2015. It began as a one-off project by Sonam, the founder, and has today evolved into a transformative company, facilitating quality healthcare. Medical Linkers is a story of its founder’s deeply personal journey, marked by loss, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to making quality healthcare accessible to all. The company provides comprehensive medical tourism solutions across India, Turkey, and Singapore, ensuring smooth treatment journeys for international patients. Following her father’s untimely demise due to delayed medical intervention, the founder realised that access to the right guidance at the right time could save many lives. Driven by this realisation, she left a successful corporate career to bridge the gap between patients and world-class healthcare. Her empathetic approach and her husband’s unwavering support laid the foundation for what Medical Linkers is today. It has served as a lifeline for patients from over 30 countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, and parts of Africa, handling approx 20 patients every month and facilitating treatments ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 per patient. Approximately 80% of their patients are international, while 20% are domestic patients traveling abroad for specialised treatments. Medical Linkers stands itself apart by offering more than logistical support. The company’s ethos is rooted in human connection and ethical practices. From visa assistance and accommodation arrangements to post-treatment care and even expertise sharing with local medical practitioners, their services cover every aspect of a patient’s journey. They have also coordinated life-saving medical evacuations costing up to $50,000, demonstrating their commitment to addressing even the most complex patient needs. A sense of personal touch established by its team has often turned patients into an extended family, with many maintaining long-term relationships. A pioneer in the traditionally unstructured industry, Medical Linkers has worked with over 200 patients annually, establishing trust and ensuring transparency. They’ve manoeuvred societal biases, professional challenges, and personal sacrifices to establish themselves as a trusted name in medical value travel. By working closely with leading hospitals like Apollo, Manipal Hospitals, and others, they ensure that affordability does not come at the cost of quality. They have supported critical cases with success stories, such as a liver transplant patient initially given only six months to live who has now survived for seven years. Their efforts extend beyond patient care. They are simultaneously contributing to India’s global reputation by facilitating knowledge exchange programs with international doctors and promoting the country’s unmatched medical expertise. For instance, Indian doctors handle 30–50 surgeries a month, a figure significantly higher than what many counterparts in developed nations achieve in a year. Medical Linkers is not just a business; it’s a mission. A mission aimed to deliver hope, provide care, and uphold the dignity of every life they touch. Their journey is a powerful reminder that with empathy and determination, even the most personal losses can become a source of inspiration and change.
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