Bhubaneswar, Aug 26: In a move aimed at bringing greater transparency to medical tourism, Bhubaneswar-based Healing Tourist has launched a medical second-opinion and treatment facilitation platform that puts one question before arranging international treatment: Does the patient actually need to travel?

The platform allows patients to submit their existing medical records for review by independent specialists. The objective is to help patients better understand their diagnosis, treatment options and whether travelling to India for medical care should be considered at all.

In a notable move, Healing Tourist plans to publicly report how frequently its specialist panel advises patients not to travel for treatment.

The company said its first Quarterly Transparency Report will be published after the end of the fourth quarter of 2026. It is expected to disclose the number of cases reviewed and the proportion in which specialists determine that international travel is unnecessary or not recommended based on the available medical records.

Medical advice before travel arrangements

Healing Tourist has structured its services in two stages-independent medical review followed by treatment facilitation, if required.

Patients can obtain a written second opinion from a specialist without any obligation to subsequently use the platform for treatment arrangements in India.

If a patient chooses to travel after the review, Healing Tourist can assist with identifying suitable hospitals and specialists, coordinating medical records, treatment planning, obtaining estimated costs, scheduling and travel-related arrangements.

The company said the separation is intended to ensure that the decision to seek treatment abroad is considered before the commercial process of arranging medical travel begins.

Fixed fees for specialist reviews

According to Healing Tourist, specialist reviewers receive a fixed professional fee for each medical-record review. Their payment does not depend on whether they recommend treatment in India, advise against travelling or suggest that the patient continue treatment closer to home.

The specialists also do not receive additional compensation if a patient eventually books treatment through the platform.

Healing Tourist said it will publish relevant provisions of its specialist-panel agreement to provide greater clarity about how the independence of medical reviews is maintained.

“A medical tourism platform should be willing to tell a patient not to become a medical tourist,” said Chidatmika Khatua, Director of Healing Tourist.

She said the company believes patients should first know whether travelling is medically appropriate before deciding where to seek treatment.

Network of around 200 specialists

At launch, Healing Tourist's clinical network includes approximately 200 specialists across seven medical disciplines.

The initial specialties are:

Cardiology

Oncology

Orthopedics

Neurology

Gastroenterology

Plastic Surgery

Fertility and Reproductive Medicine

The company plans to expand its specialist network and add more clinical disciplines and healthcare providers.

For patients who eventually decide to seek treatment in India, the platform also aims to improve cost visibility by coordinating treatment plans and obtaining estimated or agreed pricing from participating healthcare providers wherever feasible.

Clear limits on cross-border medical services

Healing Tourist said its international service is based on reviewing existing medical records and providing written specialist opinions. It does not present the service as a substitute for a patient's local doctor, emergency medical care or an in-person clinical examination.

The platform also does not provide cross-border video consultations, diagnoses or prescriptions as part of its second-opinion service.

Once a patient travels to India, all diagnosis, treatment decisions, procedures and prescriptions remain the responsibility of the appropriately licensed treating doctors and healthcare institutions.

Putting the patient before the destination

India has emerged as a destination for specialty medicine, complex procedures and hospital-based care. However, Healing Tourist says its approach is to determine whether a patient should travel before recommending where the patient should go.

The company's central question is therefore not simply “Where should you go for treatment?” but “Do you need to go anywhere at all?”

By publishing how often its specialists recommend against medical travel, Healing Tourist aims to give patients and healthcare stakeholders a measurable indicator of the independence of its review process.

Headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Healing Tourist describes itself as a medical second-opinion and treatment facilitation platform built around three principles—independent medical review, transparent patient information and responsible treatment facilitation.