American Visitor Calls Indian Healthcare ‘Really Annoying’ — Because You Can Walk In, See a Doctor the Same Day, and Pay Next to Nothing. Her Viral Video Has the Internet Divided.
By Dr. Heiral | newsforyou.live | March 30, 2026 | ⏱️ 2-Minute Read
The Viral Moment
A simple hospital visit in India has turned into a moment of contrast for an American visitor, after she described being able to see a doctor the same day and pay a fraction of what it would cost in the United States.1
In a video shared on Instagram, Liz Bomes uses humour to make her point, calling India’s healthcare system “really annoying” before explaining why.1
Her words — dripping with sarcasm — have struck a nerve with millions worldwide:
“Here’s something that’s really annoying about India: healthcare actually works. Instead of waiting six months for an appointment or paying thousands of dollars just to get a basic blood test done, I can literally walk into a hospital, see a doctor the same day, and pay next to nothing.”1
Then came the punchline that sealed the video’s virality:
“It’s way more exciting in the US to call 50 different clinics, just to beg for an appointment, and then go into debt after. India stop making life so easy.”1
The Numbers Don’t Lie: India vs US Healthcare
Liz’s experience isn’t anecdotal — the data backs her up completely.
| Service | 🇮🇳 India | 🇺🇸 United States |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor’s Consultation | ₹600–₹1,500 ($7–$17)2 | $150–$600 (₹13,000–₹51,000)2 |
| Wait Time (General) | Same day2 | 2–4 weeks2 |
| Specialist Visit | Within a week2 | 1–3 months2 |
| Elective Surgery (e.g. Knee) | 1–4 weeks2 | 3–6 months2 |
| One-Night Hospital Stay | ₹7,000 ($80)2 | ₹2.56 lakh ($3,000)2 |
| Heart Bypass Surgery | Starting at $5,0003 | $100,0003 |
She’s Not the Only One
Liz joins a growing list of foreign creators who’ve been stunned by India’s healthcare.
Mackenzie, one half of the popular duo UNSTUK with Mac & Keen, shared her firsthand experience on Instagram. Her video quickly crossed 200,000 likes and drew thousands of comments.4
The entire process — tests, home sample collection, and initial medication — cost only $14, roughly ₹1,100.4 “I am going to be spoiled for life in terms of Indian healthcare,” she told her followers.4
Another viral case: An NRI named Parth Vijayvergiya visited a US emergency room for a minor knee injury while ice-skating. The medical bill amounted to $1,800 (approximately ₹1,65,000)5 — apart from the nearly $4,500 (approximately ₹4,00,000) that the insurance company already paid the hospital.5
Total cost for a bandage and an X-ray: over ₹5.5 lakh.
In India? It would cost a few hundred rupees.
The Internet Reacts
The comparison struck a chord not just for its tone, but for what it reflects about everyday access to care.1
A comment placed the discussion in a global context, noting India’s growing role beyond domestic care: “India encourages Medical Tourism. Many patients from the well developed countries are coming to India for major surgeries and it cost not even 25% of the cost in their country.”1
At the same time, users also acknowledged that lower costs do not always translate to uniform quality, and that experiences can vary widely between public and private healthcare providers.1
India: The World’s Doctor
The viral videos aren’t just feel-good stories — they reflect a seismic global shift.
India’s medical tourism market is valued at USD 20.4 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 65.1 billion by 2036, expanding at a 12.3% CAGR.6
Approximately 2 million patients visit India each year from 78 countries for medical, wellness and IVF treatments.7
India medical tourism market beneficiaries pay 60-80% less than OECD rates, with bypass grafts starting at USD 5,000 against USD 100,000 in the United States.3
Advantages include reduced costs, the availability of latest medical technologies, and compliance on international quality standards, doctors trained in western countries including the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as English-speaking personnel.7
Most estimates found that treatment costs in India start at around one-tenth of the price of comparable treatment in the United States or the United Kingdom.7
The Bigger Picture: Why India’s Healthcare Works Differently
For many patients, especially visitors, the biggest difference is not just affordability but immediacy — the ability to access consultations, diagnostics and medicines without long wait times or insurance hurdles.1
In India, walk-in appointments are common. Patients often see a general physician on the same day. Specialist appointments, too, are frequently available within a week.4
India’s costs are a fraction of the USA’s, thanks to lower labor costs, generic drugs, and competition among private hospitals.
But it’s not all roses. According to the Bharat Health Index 2023, only one in four semi-rural and rural residents has access to modern healthcare facilities nearby. India produces the highest number of medical graduates in the world each year — yet most practitioners remain concentrated in urban centres. Therefore, while urban Indians and medical tourists benefit enormously from the system, millions in underserved communities still struggle to access basic care.4
The Bottom Line
India offers fast, affordable, and accessible healthcare that routinely surprises foreign visitors. Meanwhile, the US system — despite its advanced facilities — continues to burden patients with high costs, long wait times, and mounting debt. As medical tourism to India grows steadily, stories like these are likely to fuel that trend even further.4
As Liz Bomes sarcastically pleaded: “India, stop making life so easy.”
The world is listening. And increasingly, the world is flying to India — not for the Taj Mahal, but for a doctor who can see them the same day, treat them with world-class care, and send them home without a bill that destroys their life.
That’s India’s real superpower.
Dharmesh Prajapati is a senior journalist and editorial chief at newsforyou.live.