India Enhances Medical Tourism with Ayush Visa and Global Synergy Initiatives

New Delhi: The Indian government has introduced a specialized Ayush Visa category to facilitate foreigners seeking treatment under traditional Indian systems of medicine. Launched on July 27, 2023, the Ayush Visa caters to therapeutic care and wellness treatments provided by accredited hospitals and wellness centers.

The Ayush Visa is available in four sub-categories: Ayush Visa (AY-1), Ayush Attendant Visa (AY-2), e-Ayush Visa, and e-Ayush Attendant Visa. Since its inception, 123 regular Ayush Visas, 221 e-Ayush Visas, and 17 e-Ayush Attendant Visas have been issued as of December 4, 2024.

To further streamline medical tourism, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Advantage Healthcare India portal, India’s official platform for Medical Value Travel (MVT). The portal, accessible at www.healinindia.gov.in, serves as a one-stop resource for international patients seeking healthcare and wellness services in India.

The government has also been proactive in promoting Ayush-based medical tourism globally. The Ayush Medical Value Travel Summit 2024, held on September 30 in Mumbai, highlighted the theme ‘Global Synergy in Ayush: Transforming Health and Wellness through Medical Value Travel’. The summit aimed to integrate traditional Indian medicine with modern healthcare systems, reinforcing India’s leadership in MVT.

Union Minister of State for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, informed the Rajya Sabha about these developments, emphasizing India’s efforts to provide a comprehensive and integrative healthcare experience to international patients.