Lok Sabha Question No. 2806 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-17
Subject: Special AYUSH Visa Category
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Tapir Gao, Lallu Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2806 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17/03/2023

## SPECIAL AYUSH VISA CATEGORY

## 2806.  SHRI TAPIR GAO: SHRI LALLU SINGH:

Will the MINISTER OF AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a)    whether  the  Government  plans  to  introduce  aspecial  AYUSH  visa  category  for foreign nationals whowant to come to India to take advantage of traditionalmedicines and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether any steps have been taken up tocompile a data of the number of foreigners arriving inIndia for treatment and training in the field;

(c) the schemes of the Government to promotethe medical tourism in the country;

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promotemedical  tourism  through  its  G20 Presidency and otherInternational forums; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OFAYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) During the inaugural ceremony of the 'Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit'  held  on  20.04.2022  at  Gandhinagar,  Gujarat,  the  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister made the announcement to launch a special category of Ayush visa for foreign visitors for  Ayush  medical  travel/education/treatment  including  Yoga.  The  same  has  been taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.

(b) No such information is available with the Ministry of Ayush.

(c)  The  Government  has  initiated  numerous  schemes  for  the  promotion  of  Medical Value Travel (MVT) in the country:

- (i) The  Ministry  has  developed  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  the  Promotion  of International  Co-operation  in  Ayush  (IC  Scheme)  under  which  various activities  are  being  taken  to  promote  &  propagate  Ayush  System  of  at international  level.  The  Ministry  of  Ayush,  through  this  scheme,  provides support to Indian Ayush drug Manufacturers/ Ayush Service providers to give

boost to the export of AYUSH  products & services; facilitates the International promotion, development and recognition of the Ayush system of medicine;  foster  interaction  of  the  stakeholders  and  market  development  of AYUSH at international level;  promote  academics  and  research  through  the establishment of AYUSH Academic Chairs in foreign countries and holding training  workshop/symposiums  for  promoting  and  strengthening  awareness and interest about AYUSH Systems of Medicine at international level.

- (ii) The Ministry of Ayush developed Central Sector Scheme namely Champion Services Sector Scheme for Medical Value Travel under which financial  assistance  in  the  form  of  interest  subsidy  is  provided  to  private investors  for  the  Establishment  of  World  Class,  State  of  the  Art  Super Specialty  Hospitals/  Day  Care  Centres  of  the  systems  recognized  under Indian  Medicine  Central  Council  (IMCC)  Act,  1970  or  Homeopathic Central Council (HCC) Act, 1973 on Pan India basis..

(d)  &  (e)  Union  Health  Ministry  has  organized  a  side  event  during  its  first  Health Working Groupmeeting held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from l8th - 20th January, 2023  to  build  consensusin  G20  countries  for  the  promotion  ofholistic,  value-based healthcare through medical tourism.

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