Expanding Russia's medical tourism sector could potentially triple by the year 2030
In a significant development, the federal project "Development of the Export of Medical Services" was completed in December 2024. This project has paved the way for Russia to potentially become one of the key destinations for medical tourism.
At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2025, Sergei Nechaev, the general director of "VTB Medicine", made this bold statement. He highlighted that Russia's stable positions in various medical fields, including reproductive technologies, cardiovascular surgery, oncology and radiotherapy, immunology, neurosurgery, and ophthalmology, are key factors contributing to this potential.
The completion of the project has significantly boosted the volume of medical services exports in Russia, surpassing the 1 billion dollar mark. This growth is expected to continue, with the Russian medical tourism market projected to grow 2.5-3 times in the coming years. By 2030, the annual volume of the Russian medical tourism market is estimated to reach 60-90 billion rubles.
Experts attribute the competitiveness of Russian clinics on the international market to the high quality of medical care, affordable prices, and use of modern technologies. Developing international partnerships, creating specialized programs and services for foreign patients, and participating in global medical exhibitions and conferences will further help attract clients from new countries.
Currently, the majority of foreign patients in Russia come from the CIS. However, the goal is to expand the geography of foreign patients to other regions such as the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Sergei Nechaev expects that Russia will become one of the important destinations for medical tourism in the future.
The completion of the federal project has contributed to the formation of a positive image of Russian healthcare abroad. With these strategic steps, Russia is well on its way to becoming a major player in the global medical tourism industry.
