India has over 70,000 hospitals. The gap between the best and the worst is enormous.
For international patients, the stakes of choosing wrong are higher than they are at home — you're far from your support network, in an unfamiliar system, with less ability to walk out and go somewhere else if things feel off. Getting this right before you travel matters.
Here's how to do it.
Start With Accreditation — and Verify It Yourself
Two independent bodies accredit hospitals in India to international standards:
NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals) — India's national standard. Independently audited across infection control, surgical safety, medication protocols, patient rights, and clinical outcomes. This is the minimum standard for any hospital you consider.
JCI (Joint Commission International) — the global benchmark, used by international insurers in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Held by roughly 30 hospitals in India. If your home insurance requires it for reimbursement, look for this specifically.
Verify both yourself — don't rely on a hospital's website claim:
- NABH: nabh.co
- JCI: jointcommissioninternational.org
Search the hospital name directly. If it doesn't appear, it isn't accredited — regardless of what the website says.
Red Flags to Walk Away From
These appear more often than they should in the medical tourism space:
No accreditation, or accreditation you can't verify. If a hospital claims NABH or JCI but doesn't appear in the official registry, stop.
Cost estimates given without seeing your records. A legitimate hospital quotes based on your actual diagnosis and reports. A price quoted before anyone has reviewed your case is a marketing number, not a clinical one.
Pressure to decide quickly. Reputable hospitals don't rush patients into commitments. Urgency tactics — "this offer expires," "beds are filling up" — are sales behaviour, not medical behaviour.
No named doctor assigned to your case. You should know who your surgeon is before you travel — their name, their qualifications, their experience with your specific procedure. "Our team of experts" is not an answer.
Vague answers about post-treatment follow-up. Ask what happens after you fly home. A hospital with poor post-care systems gives vague answers. A good one tells you exactly how remote consultations are scheduled and who your contact is.
Testimonials but no outcomes data. Patient stories are not a substitute for procedure-specific volume and outcomes data. Ask for the numbers.
What to Ask Before Committing
Once you've confirmed accreditation, these questions separate genuinely good hospitals from adequately accredited ones:
- How many cases of my specific procedure does this department perform per year?
- Who is the surgeon, and what is their individual case volume?
- Can I have an itemised cost estimate based on my actual medical records?
- What does follow-up look like for patients returning to my country?
- Is there a dedicated international patient coordinator assigned to my case?
A hospital that answers all of these clearly and specifically is one worth trusting. Evasion on any of them tells you something useful.
Use a Facilitator — But Vet That Too
A good medical tourism facilitator does the hospital verification work on your behalf — accreditation checks, surgeon matching, cost transparency, and post-treatment coordination. For most international patients, this is the most practical route to a legitimate hospital.
But facilitators vary in quality too. Before working with one, ask:
- Which hospitals are in your network, and are they NABH or JCI accredited?
- How are you compensated — do you receive referral fees from hospitals?
- Who is my point of contact after I return home?
A trustworthy facilitator answers all three without deflecting. Sano Healthcare and Tourism works exclusively with NABH-accredited hospitals, provides transparent cost estimates based on your records, and coordinates post-treatment follow-up as a standard part of the service — not an add-on.
The Fastest Way to Check a Hospital
1. Search the hospital name on nabh.co or jointcommissioninternational.org 2. Confirm they have a dedicated international patient department 3. Ask for the named surgeon and verify their qualifications 4. Request an itemised estimate based on your actual records 5. Ask one question about post-treatment follow-up — and judge the answer
If any of these steps produces a vague or evasive response, move on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I verify a hospital's accreditation myself?
Yes — and you should. NABH accreditation is searchable at nabh.co. JCI at jointcommissioninternational.org. Don't accept a hospital's self-declaration.
Is a government hospital in India a safe option for international patients?
International patients are treated at private accredited hospitals, not government facilities. The two systems differ significantly in infrastructure, staffing, and international patient services.
What if the hospital Sano recommends isn't one I've heard of?
Brand recognition in medical tourism often reflects marketing spend, not clinical quality. Sano's recommendations are based on accreditation, case-specific outcomes data, and direct working relationships — not hospital fame. Read patient testimonials →
How do I know Sano's hospital network is legitimate?
Every hospital in Sano's network is NABH-accredited — verifiable independently at nabh.co. View treatments and hospitals →
Start With a Free Case Review
Share your medical reports with Sano's team and receive a matched hospital recommendation, named specialist, and itemised cost estimate — all verified, all within 48 hours.
Book your free consultation →
WhatsApp: +91 85300 54299 — 24/7, in your language.
Sano Healthcare and Tourism works exclusively with NABH-accredited hospitals across India. Every recommendation is independently verifiable. About Sano →
