Doctors and Hospitals in India: How Travellers Get Medical Help

Dial 112. The Ministry of Home Affairs describes it as a pan-India, single, internationally recognised number for emergencies such as police, fire and ambulance, and says the service now runs in all states and union territories. The UK Foreign Office's advice is to dial 112 and ask for an ambulance, and it says the service supports callers in English, Hindi and other languages.

You can reach 112 in other ways than a voice call. The ministry lists SMS, email, a panic button and the 112 India mobile app; on a smartphone, pressing the power button several times in a row sets off the panic button, and on a basic phone a long press of the 5 or 9 key does. The Foreign Office notes that the app can share your location with the responders. Other governments list other numbers too: Canada's travel advice gives 100 or, from a mobile, 112 for police, 101 for fire and 102 for medical assistance, and CDC gives 100, or 112 from a mobile.

Once the emergency is in hand, call your insurer. The Foreign Office advises contacting your insurance or medical assistance company quickly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

India has both, and the difference matters to a traveller. Canada's travel advice says government hospitals provide services free or at a minimal cost, while private facilities often offer a higher level of care but can be expensive. The UK Foreign Office says that in major cities both government and more expensive private care are available.

Where you are makes a difference too. The Foreign Office warns that medical facilities differ from those in the UK, especially in more remote areas, and that specialised treatment may not be available outside major cities; Canada describes care in major cities as possibly good but usually very limited or unavailable in rural areas. In the mountains and on long drives, that is one more reason to carry insurance with evacuation cover.

Hospitals also expect someone to stay with you. The Foreign Office says hospitals in India usually ask for a guardian or an attendant to remain with the patient. Agencies can provide a paid caregiver, it adds, but finding one who speaks English may be hard, so if you travel alone, tell your insurer's assistance team.

Expect to pay, or to prove you are insured, before treatment starts: Canada's travel advice says most hospitals in India require up-front payment or confirmation of insurance coverage before commencing treatment. CDC suggests a travel health policy that will make payments to hospitals directly, and with a 24-hour physician support centre. Keep the policy number, the assistance line and a card that works abroad with your passport. What to look for in a policy is on our page about travel insurance for India.

Make a list before you need one. CDC advises carrying a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination. The UK government publishes one: its page "India: doctors and medical facilities" is a list of English-speaking doctors and medical facilities, last updated in June 2025, and the Foreign Office says it accepts no liability arising from its use. If you are not British, ask your own embassy or consulate whether it keeps a similar list. Your insurer's 24-hour assistance line can also advise on appropriate treatment, as the UK Foreign Office notes.

Pharmacies are easy to find: the UK Foreign Office says they are widely available in India, and that most medicines needing a prescription in the UK need one in India too.

This page is about falling ill on a holiday. Planned treatment is a different kind of trip; see our page on medical travel to India. For the rest of staying well on the road, from food and water to the winter air, see our guide to health in India for travellers, and for personal safety, our India safety guide.