Government Introduces Ayush Visa Category to Boost Medical Value Travel

In an effort to enhance medical value travel, the Ministry of Home Affairs in India has unveiled a new visa category known as the AYUSH (AY) visa. This specialized visa is designed for foreign nationals seeking treatment under Ayush systems or Indian systems of medicine, including therapeutic care, wellness, and Yoga.

The introduction of the Ayush Visa is a response to the proposal for a dedicated visa scheme catering to foreigners traveling to India for medical treatments under Ayush systems. To accommodate this new visa category, the Visa Manual, 2019, has been updated with a new chapter called Chapter 11A - Ayush Visa, specifically addressing treatments under Indian systems of medicine.

According to the Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, the Ayush (AY) visa category marks a significant milestone in boosting Medical Value Travel in India. He highlighted that this initiative aligns with the Prime Minister's vision to promote Indian traditional medicine globally.

Ayush Visa Category

The Ayush-based healthcare and wellness economy in India have shown promising growth in recent years. According to a report by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), titled 'The Global Wellness Economy: Looking beyond Covid,' the Global Wellness economy is projected to grow at an annual rate of 9.9 per cent. The Ayush-based healthcare and wellness sector, in particular, is expected to reach USD 70 billion by the year 2025.

The introduction of the Ayush Visa category also plays a crucial role in India's Heal in India initiative, which aims to position the country as a preferred destination for medical value travel. Both the Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare are collaborating to develop a Heal in India portal to promote India as a world-class medical tourism destination.

In line with efforts to boost medical tourism, the Ministry of Ayush has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Ministry of Tourism, to join forces in promoting Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.

The introduction of this category is expected to attract more foreign nationals seeking holistic healthcare solutions in India and further contribute to the growth of the country's medical value travel sector.