The Indian government has announced a series of measures aimed at positioning the country as a global hub for medical tourism, biopharmaceutical manufacturing and ayurveda-based medicines.
Presenting the Union Budget on Sunday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government plans to establish five Regional Medical Hubs across the country, in partnership with state governments and the private sector. The initiative is intended to strengthen healthcare infrastructure while promoting India as a destination for medical value travel.
The proposed hubs will operate as integrated healthcare complexes, combining medical services, education and research. They will include AYUSH centres, Medical Value Tourism Facilitation Centres, and supporting facilities for diagnostics, post-treatment care and rehabilitation. According to the finance minister, the hubs are expected to create employment opportunities for doctors, allied health professionals and other skilled workers.
Sitharaman also announced steps to promote India as a manufacturing hub for biopharmaceutical and ayurveda drugs, including the expansion of AYUSH infrastructure nationwide. Three new branches of the All India Institute of Ayurveda will be established, while existing AYUSH pharmacies and drug testing laboratories will be upgraded.
The measures are part of a broader government effort to expand healthcare capacity, promote high-value medical travel and generate skilled employment in the health sector. Industry representatives have welcomed the move, noting that a structured policy framework could strengthen India’s position in the global medical tourism market.
Experts have also highlighted the need for ethical pricing standards and improved data collection to track patient inflows, treatment demands and regional trends, in order to guide future investment and planning.
In addition, Sitharaman said the World Health Organization’s Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, will be upgraded to support evidence-based research, training and awareness in traditional medicine.
Referring to the growing global interest in ayurveda following the COVID-19 pandemic, the finance minister said expanding the export of quality ayurveda products would benefit farmers cultivating medicinal herbs and young people involved in processing and manufacturing, while meeting rising international demand. (Source: IE)
