New Delhi/Shimla: January 22:
Foreign patients travelling to India for holistic, preventive and lifestyle care have increased nearly fourfold since 2018, but Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand continue to miss the medical tourism boom witnessed in the country.
Despite their natural advantage for wellness and healing, neither state has a national-level healthcare institution capable of attracting international patients.
The question now being asked is whether Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, who hails from Himachal will step in to top up or support the creation of such institutions to draw foreign patients to the region.
India, meanwhile, is fast emerging as a global hub for Medical Value Travel (MVT), offering world-class hospitals, skilled doctors and cost-effective treatment, along with traditional systems like Ayurveda and Yoga.
From complex surgeries to long-term wellness therapies, the country has built an integrated healthcare ecosystem that global patients increasingly trust.
Yoga, Ayurveda and wellness-based therapies are now major contributors to this growth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly highlighted India’s holistic approach to health.
At the Advantage Healthcare India 2023 event, he said medical value travel and health workforce mobility are vital for a healthy planet.
He also underlined the global relevance of India’s preventive traditions, including Yoga, meditation, Ayurveda and traditional diets such as millets.
To strengthen global confidence, the Prime Minister launched the Ayush Quality Mark in December 2025, offering an internationally aligned assurance framework for Ayush products and services.
Union Minister of State for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav said Medical Value Travel is not just about affordability, but about trust, quality and outcomes.
Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha added that standardisation and credibility are key to sustaining global growth.
Official data reflects this surge. International patient numbers rose from 1.82 lakh in 2020 to 6.44 lakh in 2024. Strong policy support, 100 per cent FDI in medical infrastructure, fiscal incentives and global outreach have helped build a competitive ecosystem.
The introduction of the Ayush Visa in 2023 and expanding insurance coverage for Ayush treatments have further boosted confidence among foreign patients.
Yet, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand remain on the sidelines. The Chief Ministers and Health Ministers in these states need to urgently focus on Medical Value Travel.
This sector offers immense potential for investment, employment and global recognition. Ignoring it means losing a major economic opportunity.
The Himalayan states already have clean air, a peaceful environment and a strong tradition of Ayurveda and Yoga. These natural strengths alone, however, are not enough. What is missing is vision, planning and institutional backing at the national level.
Experts say the time has come to establish national-level healthcare and wellness institutions in the Himalayas. Public–private partnerships can help fill infrastructure and skill gaps.
A clear policy push from the Centre and the states could transform the region into a global wellness hub.
With India moving from cost advantage to global trust in integrated healthcare, the spotlight is now on political leadership.
Will Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda help top up or anchor world-class health institutions in Himachal and Uttarakhand to attract foreign patients?
The opportunity is real, but the window may not remain open for long.
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