Lok Sabha Question No. 4157 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Medical Value Travel
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4157

ANSWERED ON 27.03.2023

## MEDICAL VALUE TRAVEL

4157.DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

PROF. RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI. UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been entered into between the Ministry of AYUSH (MoA) and the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  MoA  and  ITDC  have  planned  any  actions  to  improve Medical Value Travel (MVT) in India and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the budget estimated to promote the MVT in India by 9.9 per cent every year; and
- (d) whether the Government and ITDC have shortlisted the places which will be focused upon to promote MVT and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                                       (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a):  Yes,  Sir.  Ministry  of  Ayush  (MoA)  and  India  Tourism  Development Corporation  (ITDC)  signed  a  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MOU)  on 23.01.2023  for  promotion  of  Medical  Value  Travel  (MVT)  in  Ayurveda  and other traditional systems of medicine.

Whereas, ITDC has been appointed as Central Nodal Agency for promotion of Medical  and  Wellness  Tourism  in  India  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  (MoT), Government of India (GoI).

Whereas,  MoA  is  making  efforts  to  promote  MVT  in  Ayurveda  and  other traditional  systems  of  medicine.    The  roles  and  responsibilities  under  this MoU are as follows:

- i. MoA will provide Information Education Communication (IEC) material in  the  form  of  videos,  brochures  to  showcase  therapeutic  as  well  as wellness aspects of Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
- ii. MoA  will  provide  training  to  the  officials  of  ITDC  to  sensitize  them about  the  Medical  value  travel  in  Ayurveda  and  other  traditional systems of medicine.
3. iii.
4. MoA will also provide all the technical knowhow from time to time.
5. iv.
6. MoA  will  identify  tourist  circuits  where  there  is  immense  scope  to promote Medical value travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
- V. MoA would assist ITDC in identifying such suitable organizations/service experts for setting up a wellness centre at New Delhi or any other locations across the country as decided by ITDC.
- vi. ITDC  will  promote  Heal  in  India -MVT  in  Ayurveda,  Yoga  and  other Indian  systems  of  medicine  as  well  as  to  establish  India  as  No.1 destination  or  Medical  Value  travel  in  consultation  with  Ministry  of Tourism & Ministry of Ayush.
- vii. ITDC  may  include  historical  heritage  sites  of  Indian  Systems  of medicine (suggested by Ministry of Ayush) in tourist destinations under "Knowledge  Tourism"  and  may  develop  films/literature  etc.  useful  to tourists.
- viii. ITDC will explore establishing Ayurveda and Yoga centre in the Hotels run by ITDC through such means as the ITDC may deem fit.
- xi. ITDC will organize sensitization workshops in collaboration with Ayush information  cells  aboard,  cost  of  which  would  be  shared  by  both organizations
- x. Any other activity as agreed by mutual consent in writing.
13. (b): As  per  the  MoU  between  MoA  and  ITDC,  MoA  will  identify  tourist circuits  where  there  is  immense  scope  to  promote  MVT  in  Ayurveda  and other traditional systems of medicine. ITDC will promote Heal in India -MVT in  Ayurveda,  Yoga  and  other  Indian  systems  of  medicine  as  well  as  to establish India as Number  1  destination for Medical Value travel in consultation  with  Ministry  of  Tourism  &  Ministry  of  Ayush.  Besides  other

responsibilities,  ITDC  is  also  exploring  establishing  Ayurveda  and  Yoga centres in the Hotels run by ITDC.

(c): The Union Cabinet approved  the  Action  Plan  for  Champion  Sectors  in Services  on  28 th   February,  2018  to  give  focused  attention  to  12  identified Champion  Services  Sectors  for  promoting  and  realizing  their  potential, particularly from the point of view of promoting exports. On 6 th  September, 2019,  the  Expenditure  Finance  Committee  (EFC)  inter-alia  approved  the Ministry of Ayush proposal  (under the Champion Services Sector Scheme) for 'Medical Value Travel' scheme to promote:

- a. Establishment  of  Ayush  Health  Care  Super  Speciality  Day  Care Hospital; and
- b. Skill Development in AYUSH Sector and Establishment of AYUSH GRID, with a financial outlay of Rupees 769 Crore for 2019-20 to 2023-24.

(d): At present, the places have not been shortlisted. The execution of the MoU  signed  between  Ministry  of  Ayush  and  ITDC  is  an  ongoing  activity. Hence, in the future, as and when needed, M/o Ayush and ITDC would seek collaboration from any entity then needed.

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