Ayush Medical Value Travel Summit 2024 inaugurated in Mumbai
The theme is Global Synergy in Ayush:
Transforming Health and Wellness through Medical Value Travel
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ayush
has gained global recognition; our focus is on comprehensive health encompasses
physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, making India a global leader in
health tourism: Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge),
Ministry of Ayush
Medical Value Travel Summit 2024 in Mumbai to be followed by events in
Bhubaneswar and a grand finale in Delhi, targeting one crore households with
'Desh ka Prakrutik Parikshan - Ghar Ghar tak Ayurved” on the occasion of
Ayurveda Day
Prataprao
Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, and
Union Minister of State, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of
India, inaugurated the Ayush Medical Value Travel Summit 2024, themed 'Global
Synergy in Ayush: Transforming Health and Wellness through Medical Value
Travel’ in Mumbai today. The summit is being organized by the Ministry of
Ayush, Government of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the
Government of Maharashtra, and key partners.
Addressing the gathering Prataprao Jadhav said, "At the Ayush Medical Value
Travel Summit, we celebrate India's natural beauty and its holistic healthcare
offerings—Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy—attracting thousands of
international tourists annually. Our focus is on comprehensive health
encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, making India a global
leader in health tourism. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi, Ayush has gained global recognition. It is now vital to India's
healthcare system, including integration into AIIMS and defence hospitals. With
the G-20 presidency, we have positioned Ayush globally, integrating these
practices into various healthcare systems and institutions nationwide."
The Ayush Minister added that, "People
are interested in experiencing authentic Ayush services, but many times it is
observed that either they are unaware or don't have access to these services.
Events like this create bridges, bringing the healing power of traditional
wellness within reach for all." Additionally,
he mentioned his conversation with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath
Shinde, in which he proposed establishing a Ministry of Ayush in Maharashtra
and an Ayush University.
Prataprao Jadhav
said, "Ayush is
tackling health issues like diabetes and liver diseases with evidence-based
treatments, aiming for accessibility for all. We urge the government to provide
free Ayush treatment for all employees and are committed to establishing
affordable Ayush centres at block and tehsil levels. On October 9, we will
inaugurate our first Ayush Jan Aushadhi Center to integrate traditional
practices into healthcare. The nationwide 'Women's Health Check' initiative
will promote health awareness through Ayurveda. The first Medical Value Travel
Summit 2024 in Mumbai will be followed by events in Bhubaneswar and a grand
finale in Delhi, targeting one crore households with 'Desh ka Prakrutik
Parikshan - Ghar Ghar tak Ayurved on the occasion of Ayurveda Day."
In his keynote presentation, Vaidya
Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, stated, "The global reach of Ayush
has significantly expanded, with exports witnessing substantial growth. The
size of the sector has increased dramatically. I would like to inform you that
RIES (Research in Information Systems), an autonomous institute under the Ministry
of External Affairs dedicated to research in development economics, has
conducted a study on the Forum for Indian Traditional Medicine (FITM).
According to their analysis the size of the Ayush sector grew from $3 million
in 2014 to $18.1 million in 2020—an increase of six fold within six years.
Furthermore, projections for 2023 estimate that this size will reach $24
million, representing almost an eightfold increase since 2014."
Dr Manoj Nesari, Advisor (Ayu), Ministry of Ayush,
Government of India welcomed the 650 participants to the Ayush Medical Value
and Wellness Travel Summit. He said “The Ministry of Ayush has signed an MOU
with the Ministry of Tourism to enhance Ayush and medical value travel, with
support from the Indian Tourism Development Corporation. State governments must
collaborate with their tourism departments to promote Ayurvedic wellness travel
and ancient sites of significance. As the number of foreign travellers seeking
Ayush treatments grows, it's vital for all stakeholders—tour operators,
insurance providers, and hospitality leaders—to unite and leverage government
initiatives to boost this essential sector. The state Ayush departments should
collaborate with state health departments to promote archaeological sites of
Ayurveda and yoga thus increasing Ayush based medical tourism.”.
Padma Shri and
Padma Bhushan awardee Vaidya Devendra Triguna, President of the All India
Ayurvedic Congress, spoke about his commitment to promoting Ayurveda. His
dedication has led to the establishment of numerous institutes, including the
Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), the All India Institute of Ayurveda,
and the Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth. Vaidya Triguna's efforts have
significantly extended the reach of Ayurveda, impacting over 80 countries
worldwide and establishing him as a torchbearer for the Ayush sector.
The Ayush Medical Value Travel Summit 2024, themed
'Global Synergy in Ayush: Transforming Health and Wellness through Medical
Value Travel,' is set to position India as the premier global hub for holistic
healthcare based on Ayush systems. This landmark event is organized by the
Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of
Tourism, the Government of Maharashtra, and key partners in Mumbai.
The Ayush Medical Value Travel Summit 2024 aims to
strengthen India's position in Medical Value Travel (MVT) by integrating
traditional Indian systems of medicine—Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and
Homeopathy (Ayush)—with modern healthcare systems. Other distinguished guests
included Health, Ayush, and Tourism officials from the Governments of
Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Key Event Highlights:
· The inaugural summit
featured an Interactive Session with Foreign Missions in India, with high-level
discussions on government initiatives and policies to promote Medical Value
Travel and empower Ayush service providers.
· Presentations by
central and State Governments and an interactive session with foreign missions
in India explored regulatory frameworks, insurance coverage, and international
patient services. Speakers included Dr Manoj Nesari, Advisor (Ayu), Ministry of
Ayush, Government of India, and Dr Rajeev D Nivatkar, Commissioner, Directorate
of Medical Education & Research, Government of Maharashtra.
· Session II: Success
Stories and Expanding Opportunities in Ayush & Medical Value Travel: Insights
from prominent wellness centres and hospitals attracting international
patients. Speakers included Joy Kumar Singh, CMO, Atmaneem Nature Cure,
Gujarat; Nikhil Kapur, Co-Founder of Atmantan Wellness Centre, Pune; and Natalie
Grant Nanda, Director of Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.
· Panel Discussions:
Featuring top leaders from the Ayush sector, including Dr Rohit Madhav Sane, MD
& Founder of Madhavbaug Wellness, Mumbai, and Dr Saurabh B. Dave, Chairman
of Dhanvantari Super Speciality Ayurveda, exploring challenges and
opportunities for global collaborations in Ayush-based wellness services.
· The event also
showcased an exhibition of Ayush manufacturers and service providers.
In rural India, awareness about Ayush varies from 87% to
99% for all states and UTs except for Arunachal Pradesh (77%), while in Urban
India, the awareness is more than 86% across all states and UTs. Ayurveda is
the most commonly used system (>86%) of Ayush across India. The Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) issued new guidelines on
April 1, 2024, requiring health insurance companies to offer AYUSH treatments
at par with other treatments. So far about 49 life insurance companies are
providing about 69 packages.
The summit provided a unique platform for stakeholders,
including government officials, wellness centres, medical travel facilitators,
insurance companies, and industry leaders, to discuss the future of Ayush-based
healthcare and Medical Value Travel. Participants gained insights into
regulatory provisions, opportunities in international markets, and initiatives
driving Ayush's global growth.
With support from FICCI, Invest India, ITDC, Ayushexcil,
and SEPC, the summit featured discussions on key government initiatives,
industry insights, and successful case studies in medical value travel. India
ranks 10th globally in the Medical Tourism Index, and its top wellness tourism
destinations underscore the nation's potential to attract international
patients seeking integrated and cost-effective healthcare solutions.