Medical Oncology in India for Oman Patients

Oman has good oncology services — the National Oncology Centre at The Royal Hospital and Sultan Qaboos University Hospital among them — yet cancer is one of the specialties for which Omani families most often look abroad. Studies from Muscat report that a large share of cancer patients travel outside Oman at least once during their treatment, most commonly for a specialist second opinion, for newer drug protocols, or for treatments not always available locally. The great majority then return to continue routine care at home.

India has become a natural destination for this care. The reasons are consistent: a short direct flight from Muscat, internationally trained specialists, immediate access to advanced diagnostics and drug therapy, shorter waiting times, and treatment costs well below those in Europe, North America or the wider Gulf. Familiar cultural surroundings, halal food and Arabic- and English-speaking support in major Indian hospitals make the experience easier for Omani patients and their families — which is why so many return to the same centres for follow-up.

Medical oncology is the branch of cancer care that treats cancer with medicines — as distinct from surgery (surgical oncology) and radiation (radiation oncology). A medical oncologist confirms the diagnosis and stage, interprets the tumour's biology, decides which drug treatment is right, and supervises it from the first cycle to follow-up.

At Indian OncoCare, this is the practice of Dr. Harish Kancharla, delivered through the day-care and inpatient facilities at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda — one of Hyderabad's largest tertiary cancer centres. Your treatment is planned and reviewed by one consultant throughout, while surgery and radiation are coordinated with the hospital's surgical and radiation-oncology teams where needed. The core drug treatments are all available and matched to your diagnosis:

• Chemotherapy — for solid tumours and blood cancers, given as day-care chemotherapy wherever possible.
• Immunotherapy — checkpoint inhibitors and antibody therapy, guided by biomarker testing.
• Targeted therapy — mutation-matched tablets and infusions selected from molecular testing.
• Hormonal therapy — for hormone-sensitive breast and prostate cancers.

Treatment choice is driven by your tumour's biology, using precision medicine, molecular oncology and, where tissue is limited, liquid biopsy — the same standard of testing used in leading centres worldwide.

Dr. Kancharla plans and supervises treatment across the common solid tumours and blood cancers, including:

• Breast, lung, colorectal, ovarian, stomach, liver, pancreatic and head & neck cancers
• Blood cancers — leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, including bone marrow (stem cell) transplant

If you are unsure which service applies to you, our cancer services overview and the patient journey explain how care is organised from first enquiry to follow-up.

For Omani patients, a great deal can be achieved without leaving Muscat. A second opinion is one of the most common reasons families approach India, and it is often best done online first: Dr. Kancharla reviews your reports over video, confirms the diagnosis and stage, checks that biomarker and mutation testing is complete, and advises whether a targeted or immunotherapy option may apply that has not yet been considered. Our guide on what to send for a cancer second opinion sets out exactly which reports, scans and pathology blocks make the review useful.

Because most Omani patients return home to continue treatment, care is planned to work alongside your local oncologist rather than replace them. Where a specific phase of treatment — an assessment, a complex cycle, or a procedure not available locally — is best done in Hyderabad, it is scheduled around your travel, and follow-up continues online after you return to Oman.

The pathway is designed so that the important decisions are made before you travel:

1. Send your reports. Share whatever you have — biopsy/histopathology report, any immunohistochemistry (IHC) or molecular report, recent scans (CT, PET-CT, MRI) and blood tests — through the enquiry form or on WhatsApp.

2. Online consultation. Dr. Kancharla reviews your file over video, confirms the diagnosis and stage, identifies any missing tests, and explains the realistic goal of treatment honestly.

3. Written plan and estimate. You receive a clear treatment plan and an indicative cost estimate, so you can arrange funds and travel with confidence.

4. Invitation and visa. Once you decide to proceed, the hospital issues the invitation letter you need for your Indian medical visa.

5. Treatment in Hyderabad, follow-up from home. Cycles are scheduled around your travel where possible, and follow-up can continue online in coordination with your doctor in Oman. If your plan involves drug therapy, our guide on what to expect during your first chemotherapy cycle walks through a treatment day step by step.

Omani nationals are eligible for the Indian e-Medical Visa, applied for online with the Indian Mission in Muscat, so the process is usually quick and straightforward. Up to two close relatives can accompany you on e-Medical Attendant visas, with validity linked to the patient's visa.

In practice you will usually need:

• A passport valid for at least six months
• An invitation / appointment letter from the treating hospital in India — we arrange this once your plan is agreed
• A referral letter from a doctor in Oman describing your condition
• Recent passport-size photographs and the completed online application
• Your medical reports and diagnosis from Oman

Apply at least a few days before your intended date of arrival, and always confirm current requirements and fees on the official Embassy of India, Muscat and Indian Visa Online pages before submitting, as rules can change. Direct flights connect Muscat with Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, making travel simple.

There is no single price for cancer treatment — it depends on the cancer type, stage, the drugs used, the number of cycles, and whether surgery, radiation or a transplant is involved. What is consistent is that treatment in India costs substantially less than equivalent care in the Gulf, Europe or North America, while using the same internationally approved drugs and protocols.

Rather than a headline figure, you receive a personalised estimate after your reports are reviewed. For context, read the cost of cancer treatment in India and, for newer treatments, the cost of immunotherapy, CAR-T and ADCs. Our financial guidance page explains estimates, staged payments and how to plan funding from Oman.

Travelling for cancer treatment is demanding for the whole family, and practical support matters as much as the medicine. Our international patients service helps with report review, estimates and hospital coordination, while our patient support and patient resources sections help you prepare for each stage. Caregivers travelling with you will find our caregiver guide useful, and common questions are answered in our FAQ and on the blog.

Q1. Why do Omani patients travel to India for medical oncology?
Mainly for specialist second opinions, access to newer drug protocols, and shorter waiting times — with the added advantages of a short flight from Muscat, familiar surroundings and lower costs than the Gulf or the West. Most patients continue routine care back home in Oman.

Q2. Do I have to travel just to get an opinion?
No. Your first consultation is online. Dr. Kancharla reviews your reports over video, so you can understand your options and likely costs from Muscat before deciding whether to fly.

Q3. What is medical oncology?
It is the treatment of cancer with medicines — chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormonal therapy — as opposed to surgery or radiation. A medical oncologist plans and supervises this drug treatment.

Q4. How do I get the medical visa?
Omani nationals apply online for an Indian e-Medical Visa through the Indian Mission in Muscat. You will need a referral letter from a doctor in Oman and an invitation letter from the treating hospital, which we provide once your plan is agreed.

Q5. Can a family member travel with me?
Yes. Up to two close relatives can accompany you on Medical Attendant visas, so a caregiver can be with you throughout treatment.

Q6. How much will treatment cost?
There is no single figure — it depends on the cancer, stage and drugs used. Costs are generally well below those in the Gulf and the West, and you receive a personalised estimate after your reports are reviewed.

Q7. Can my treatment continue after I return to Oman?
Yes. Care is planned to work alongside your local oncologist, and follow-up can continue through online review after you return home.

Q8. Who will supervise my treatment?
Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, plans and reviews your treatment personally.

Related reading: Chemotherapy · Immunotherapy · Targeted Therapy · Hormonal Therapy · International Patients · Cancer Second Opinion in Hyderabad · Your First Chemotherapy Cycle · Cost of Cancer Treatment in India · Patient Support · Blog

Further reading: World Health Organization — Cancer · National Cancer Institute — Cancer Treatment · American Cancer Society — About Cancer · European Society for Medical Oncology — ESMO · Union for International Cancer Control — UICC · Embassy of India, Muscat — Medical Visa · Indian Visa Online

Medically reviewed by Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology, Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad. Telangana State Medical Council Registration No. 77186.

Last reviewed: August 2026.

This page is general information for international patients about medical oncology in India and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Visa requirements can change — confirm current rules with the Embassy of India, Muscat before travelling. Treatment decisions must be made with a qualified oncologist who has reviewed your reports.