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The Indian government announced the Ayush (AY) visa, which is specifically meant for foreign nationals seeking treatment under Indian medical systems. On August 2, the government alerted everyone about this new introduction. This visa is intended for people who are interested in Ayurveda, Yoga, and other traditional forms of therapeutic care and wellbeing.
According to reports, Ayush Visa aims to meet the requirement for the implementation of a special visa scheme for foreigners. In response, Union Minister of State for Health Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal stated that this new program will assist enhance medical tourism in India and will bolster their efforts to make Indian traditional medicine a global phenomenon.
About Ayush Visa:
- It is specifically developed for foreign citizens seeking medical treatment in India through conventional Indian medical systems.
- This visa is intended for people who are interested in Ayurveda, Yoga, and other traditional forms of therapeutic care and wellbeing.
- A new chapter, e.g., Chapter 11A, Ayush Visa, has been added to the Visa Manual after Chapter 11 – Medical Visa, which deals with treatment under Indian medical systems, and relevant adjustments have been made in other chapters of the Visa Manual, 2019.
- The introduction of the Ayush Visa category is part of the country’s roadmap for the Heal in India initiative.
- Heal in India initiative: It seeks to provide “integrated and holistic treatment” to the world in India and enhance patient mobility for access to world-class, affordable, and quality healthcare services”.
What is AYUSH?
AYUSH, which stands for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Naturopathy, Siddha, and Homoeopathy, is an acronym coined in 2003 to replace the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM & H).
ISM & H was established in March 1995 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. On November 9, 2014, the government upgraded AYUSH to the status of a distinct ministry. AYUSH is derived from the Sanskrit phrase “ayusmanbhava,” which means “long life.”
India’s Medical Tourism
According to Ministry of Tourism data, India saw 186,644 Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for medical reasons in 2020, accounting for 7% of all FTAs. The industry is estimated to reach Rs 2,670.37 billion by 2027, growing at a 34.92% CAGR between 2023 and 2027.
India has become a popular alternative for medical facilities due to its low-cost healthcare services, high-quality diagnostic technology, and well-trained doctors, many of whom are proficient in English. The country has 1000 recognized nurse-training centers, with 10,000 nurses graduating each year.
According to reports, India gained an estimated 1,35,193 crore, 1,54,146 crore, and 1,77,874 crore in foreign money from medical value travel (MVT) in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
The Global Wellness Institute’s (GWI) research ‘The Global Wellness Economy: Looking Beyond COVID’ predicts that the Global Wellness economy will grow at a 9.9% annual rate. This suggests that the Ayush-based healthcare and wellness market would likely expand to $70 billion by 2025, owing to a significant increase in Medical Value Travel.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently inked with India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Ministry of Tourism, GoI, to further increase Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional forms of medicine.
Source:In
