In a significant development, the Ministry of Home Affairs in India has introduced a novel visa category known as "Ayush Visa." This newly incorporated visa type is specifically designed to cater to foreign nationals seeking medical treatment, therapeutic care, wellness, and yoga in the country. The announcement was made by Aayush, an organization associated with promoting traditional Indian systems of medicine.

The primary objective behind the introduction of the Ayush Visa is to address the growing demand for a specialized visa scheme that accommodates foreigners seeking medical services under Ayush systems, which encompass Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, as well as other traditional Indian systems of medicine.

In essence, the incorporation of Ayush Visa by the Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to boost India's standing in the global healthcare market, foster the growth of medical tourism, and foster cross-cultural exchange and learning in the field of traditional medicine.

"It will boost Medical Value Travel in India. This initiative will strengthen our endeavor to accomplish our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for making Indian traditional medicine a global phenomenon," said Union Minister of Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal.

In 2022, Prime Minister Modi made a significant announcement regarding the creation of the Ayush Visa, aiming to incorporate it into India's roadmap for the Heal in India initiative led by the government.

To reinforce India's position as a premier medical tourism destination worldwide, the Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare joined hands to develop a comprehensive Heal in India portal, serving as a one-stop platform for promoting the country's medical tourism offerings.

According to the report 'The Global Wellness Economy: Looking beyond COVID' by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), it is projected that the Global Wellness economy will experience a remarkable annual growth rate of 9.9%. Within this context, the Ayush-based healthcare & Wellness economy is estimated to reach $70 billion by 2025, with a significant boost in Medical Value Travel.

In a recent development, a crucial step was taken to further enhance the Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional forms of medicine. An essential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. This collaboration seeks to drive advancements in the field and propel the growth of medical tourism related to traditional healing practices.

Image source: Mint