Heal in India- Government to promote AYUSH treatment through health tourism

The Indian government has taken an initiative called “Heal in India” to promote medical tourism in the country. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with the Ministry of Ayush, is working towards developing a One Step Heal in India portal for the promotion of Medical Value Travel. To further this initiative, the Ministry of Ayush has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) for the promotion of Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.

The Ministry of Tourism has also formulated a National strategy and roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of External Affairs, and Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Ministry of Ayush has developed a Central Sector Scheme called Champion Service Sector Scheme for Medical Value Travel. Under this scheme, financial assistance in the form of Interest Subsidy is provided to private investors for the establishment of Super Specialty Hospitals/ Day Care Centers of the systems recognized under The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Act, 2020 or The National Commission for Homeopathy (NCH) Act, 2020 in FY 2021-22.

To promote traditional medicine through tourism in India, a couple of Chintan Shivirs were organized by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare to promote Heal in India and Heal by India. Certain action points were identified in these Shivirs. The Ministry of Ayush has also participated in these events. A Round Table and Plenary Session on Heal in India- Medical Value Travel were also organized during the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation summit at Gandhinagar, Gujarat to promote India as the number one destination for Medical Value Travel.

The Ministry of Ayush has been observing International Day of Yoga, Ayurveda Day, Unani Day, and Siddha Day to promote traditional systems of medicine in India and to create awareness about these systems among the public. Various Arogya melas/exhibitions are also being organized to promote traditional systems of medicine.

Information brochures were printed and distributed in the World Ayurveda Congress held in Goa to sensitize practitioners and stakeholders of ISM in respect of various initiatives taken by the Ministry of Ayush, i.e., Heal in India & Heal by India.

The Ministry of Ayush has listed ten National Institutes under its aegis with attached hospitals in different states and Union Territories to promote AYUSH treatment through health tourism. This information was provided by Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.