AYUSH-Based Medical Tourism Promotion: Govt Strategy
UPSC / SSC current affairs note
Why in news
The government has adopted a comprehensive strategy to promote AYUSH-based medical tourism in India. Key steps include the introduction of AYUSH visa, launch of AYUSH Quality Mark, and signing of MoUs with ITDC. This was informed by the Minister of State for AYUSH in a Rajya Sabha reply.
Background
India aims to become a global hub for traditional medicine and health tourism. The Ministry of Tourism, in consultation with the Ministry of AYUSH, has formulated a National Strategy and Framework for Medical and Health Tourism.
Key facts
AYUSH visa (M-3) and AYUSH attendant visa (M-4) were introduced on 27 July 2023 as sub-categories under health visa.
AYUSH Quality Mark was launched in December 2025 at the 2nd Global Traditional Medicine Summit to ensure international quality standards.
Standard Treatment Guidelines for AYUSH practices have been published and implemented to promote uniformity in therapeutic approaches.
International AYUSH Fellowship/Scholarship program provides scholarships for studying AYUSH courses in recognized Indian institutions.
Ayurveda Training Accreditation Board (ATAB) was established in December 2019 under the National Ayurveda Vidhyapeeth (RAV) to accredit Ayurveda training courses.
An MoU was signed between Ministry of AYUSH and ITDC (under Ministry of Tourism) to promote medical value travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems.
Two successful summits on AYUSH-based Medical Value Travel (IC Scheme) were held: Mumbai (30 Sep 2024) and Chennai (26 May 2025).
The International Cooperation Scheme (IC Scheme) supports export promotion, international promotion, and market development of AYUSH products and services.
Under IC Scheme, 27 country-to-country MoUs, 16 AYUSH Chair MoUs, and 57 institution-to-institution MoUs have been signed.
During the 2nd WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit (17-19 Dec 2025, New Delhi), 16 bilateral meetings were held to strengthen global cooperation.
Prelims pointers
- AYUSH visa: M-3 (patient), M-4 (attendant) – introduced 27 July 2023
- AYUSH Quality Mark launched at 2nd Global Traditional Medicine Summit, Dec 2025
- Ayurveda Training Accreditation Board (ATAB) established Dec 2019 under RAV
- International Cooperation Scheme (IC Scheme) – central sector scheme of Ministry of AYUSH
- 2nd WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit: 17-19 Dec 2025, New Delhi
- ITDC: India Tourism Development Corporation
- RAV: Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidhyapeeth (National Ayurveda Vidhyapeeth)
Mains angles
- GS2: Government policies and interventions for development of health tourism
- GS3: Role of traditional medicine in healthcare and economic growth
- GS2: International relations – bilateral cooperation in traditional medicine
- GS3: Tourism potential and medical value travel as a foreign exchange earner