Giving a fresh push to India's medical tourism sector, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday proposed a new scheme to support states in developing five regional medical hubs in collaboration with the private sector.
Presenting the Union Budget 2026-27, the minister said these hubs will function as integrated healthcare complexes, bringing together medical, educational and research facilities under one ecosystem.
Each hub will include AYUSH centres, medical value-travel facilitation services, as well as dedicated infrastructure for diagnostics, post-treatment care and rehabilitation.
The new complexes are expected to expand employment opportunities for healthcare workers, including doctors and allied health professionals.
Three New All India Institutes of Ayurveda
Highlighting the rising global interest in Ayurveda in the post-COVID era - similar to the worldwide acceptance of yoga - the Finance Minister also announced the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to strengthen research and academic capacity in the field.
"Ancient Indian yoga, already respected around the world, achieved widespread global recognition when the Prime Minister presented it at the United Nations," she noted.
What Is Medical Tourism?
Medical tourism refers to the practice of travelling across international borders to access healthcare treatments, procedures or specialists that may be unavailable, more expensive or less preferable in one's home country.
India has emerged as a major hub for travel healthcare. Nearly two million international patients arrive each year from 78 countries for medical, wellness, and IVF treatments. Significant numbers of travellers seeking treatment come from Australia, Canada, China, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
What Is the AYUSH Visa?
In August 2023, India's Ministry of Home Affairs introduced the AYUSH Visa category to facilitate inbound wellness and healthcare travel. The visa is designed to encourage foreign nationals to access traditional Indian systems of healing. A growing number of tech-enabled companies are now helping streamline the experience by offering digital platforms for medical tourism in India.
Budget Reactions From The Medical Tourism Sector
Shaaz Mehmood, Founder, Medijourn Solutions Private Limited, said, "I commend Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the Union Budget 2026-27 for recognising the strategic importance of medical tourism in India's healthcare growth story. The announcement of five regional medical tourism hubs is a strong and timely step that will enhance India's position as a global medical value travel destination."
Mehmood continued, "By integrating modern healthcare with AYUSH systems, diagnostics and rehabilitation, the Budget lays the foundation for a more coordinated and patient-centric ecosystem. The emphasis on private-sector participation and expanding healthcare capacity will improve service delivery and scalability."
He added, "India's MVT sector has grown steadily over the years, and cities such as Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru are already well-positioned to scale as global healthcare destinations. With the right execution and partnerships, this initiative can significantly strengthen India's leadership in global medical tourism."
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