Short answer: Australians researching India often look at orthopaedic procedures (knee and hip replacement) and cardiac surgery. Smartraveller’s overall advice for India is “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the threat of terrorism and crime and the risk of civil unrest, with higher levels in some areas. Medical facilities in major cities have adequate treatment standards, but care can be very limited or unavailable in remote and rural areas, and serious illness may require expensive evacuation. There is no Australia-India free-healthcare agreement (Smartraveller (opens official site)). Medicare doesn’t cover treatment overseas. Prices: Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Risks and limitations to understand first
| Risk | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Variable access to care | Major-city facilities can be adequate; remote and rural care can be very limited or unavailable. You may need evacuation if seriously ill or injured (Smartraveller (opens official site)). |
| No reciprocal free care | Tourists must pay for all medical care, including hospital stays and evacuation (Smartraveller (opens official site)). |
| Knee replacement risks | Infection, blood clots, joint problems, continued pain, and nerve or vessel injury (healthdirect (opens official site)). Rehabilitation continues for months. |
| Hip replacement risks | Blood clots and dislocation are among the risks; recovery can take months (healthdirect (opens official site)). Splitting rehab across countries is difficult. |
| Cardiac surgery complexity | Heart surgery is major surgery with risks including bleeding, infection, stroke, heart attack and death. Continuity of cardiac rehab and medicines after you fly home needs an Australian plan before you leave. |
| Infectious disease and pollution | Insect-borne disease (including malaria in many areas), food- and waterborne illness, and severe air pollution (especially in winter) are significant health issues (Smartraveller (opens official site)). Discuss travel with your GP if you have heart or lung disease. |
| Insurance gaps | Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas. Basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism (Smartraveller (opens official site)). Evacuation is expensive. |
| Clots on long flights | Surgery plus a long flight raises clot risk. See flying after surgery and DVT risk. |
See complications after surgery overseas.
Treatments people research
We don’t invent clinic recommendations or price ranges.
| Treatment | Category | Indicative AUD | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knee replacement | Orthopaedic | Price on request, get quotes from clinics | Knee replacement |
| Hip replacement | Orthopaedic | Price on request, get quotes from clinics | Hip replacement |
| Cardiac / bypass surgery | Cardiac | Price on request, get quotes from clinics | Talk to your Australian cardiologist; we don’t publish a procedure guide yet |
Compare destinations: Thailand, Malaysia and Turkey.
Healthcare standards and checks
Check the practitioner
- Allopathic doctors: National Medical Commission Indian Medical Register (opens official site). Ask for full name, registration number and State Medical Council details in writing.
- Confirm who will operate, who will anaesthetise, and which campus will provide ICU care.
Check the facility
Ask for accreditation you can verify independently (for example JCI accredited organisations search (opens official site)). Accreditation does not guarantee outcomes and does not replace checking the named surgeon.
Questions to ask
- Who operates, and what are their NMC / State Council registration details?
- Where will theatre, ICU and overnight care occur?
- What is the written plan for physiotherapy and cardiac rehab after I return to Australia?
- What implant or device brands and batch details will I receive?
- Can I have an itemised quote and full English records before I leave?
More: choosing a surgeon overseas and questions to ask before you book.
Travel logistics
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Smartraveller | Read the current India travel advice (opens official site) before you book. Overall advice: exercise a high degree of caution (as at our access date). Higher levels apply in some areas. |
| Entry | You must hold a valid visa or OCI card. Complete the online e-Arrival Card up to 3 days before travel. An online health self-declaration may also be required before arrival - check the latest Smartraveller entry rules (Smartraveller (opens official site)). |
| Insurance | Comprehensive cover including evacuation. The Australian Government will not pay these costs (Smartraveller (opens official site)). See travel insurance for surgery and medical tourism insurance. |
| Safety guide | India safety guide |
Consular Emergency Centre: +61 2 6261 3305, 24 hours (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
If something goes wrong
- Emergencies in India: dial 112 (national emergency number linking police, fire and ambulance; confirm current numbers on Smartraveller (opens official site) before you travel)
- Aftercare in Australia
- Revision surgery in Australia
- Complications after surgery overseas
- Medicare overseas · health insurance gaps
Frequently asked questions
Is India safe for medical tourism?
We don’t rate destinations for treatment. Smartraveller advises exercising a high degree of caution overall. Care quality and access vary widely between major cities and rural areas.
Will Medicare cover a knee or hip replacement in India?
No. Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas.
How do I check a doctor in India?
Use the National Medical Commission Indian Medical Register with the doctor’s full name and registration details.
How long is recovery after joint replacement?
healthdirect notes months of rehabilitation for hip and knee replacement. Plan physiotherapy in Australia before you fly.
How much does orthopaedic surgery cost in India?
We only publish verified, dated prices. Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Sources
All accessed 23 October 2026.
- Smartraveller, India: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/india
- Smartraveller, Going overseas for a medical procedure: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/travel-essentials/travel-health/medical-tourism
- Smartraveller, Medical tourism: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/medical-tourism
- healthdirect, Knee replacement: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/procedures/surgery/knee-replacement
- healthdirect, Hip replacement: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hip-replacement
- National Medical Commission, Indian Medical Register: https://nmc.org.in/information-desk/indian-medical-register
- Joint Commission International, Find accredited international organisations: https://www.jointcommission.org/en/about-us/recognizing-excellence/find-accredited-international-organizations
Disclaimer: The information on medicaltourism.com.au is general in nature. It isn’t medical, legal, financial or insurance advice and doesn’t take your personal circumstances into account. Talk to a registered health practitioner before deciding on any procedure. See our editorial policy, medical disclaimer and how we make money.