Lok Sabha Question No. 33 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-21
Subject: Special AYUSH Visa
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Tapir Gao, Lallu Singh

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHAAND HOMOEOPATHY(AYUSH)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 33 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST JULY, 2023

## SPECIALAYUSHVISA

## *33. SHRI TAPIR GAO: SHRI LALLU SINGH:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government plans to introduce a special AYUSH visa category for foreign nationals who want to come to India to take advantage of the traditional medicines and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps to compile the data of foreign nationals who visited India for treatment and training in the said field;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the schemes to promote the medical tourism in the country; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote the medical tourism in the country through the G-20 Presidency and other International forums?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI,

## SIDDHAAND HOMOEOPATHY(AYUSH)

(SHRI SARBANANDASONOWAL)

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 33* FOR 21 ST JULY, 2023

(a) Yes Sir, 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. Accordingly, the same has been taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs. Based on the proposal of Ministry of Ayush, the modalities of Ayush Visa in consultation with all stakeholders are being formulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

(b) & (c) No information is being compiled by Ministry of Home Affairs. After introduction of Ayush Visa, the data of foreign nationals who visited India for treatment and training in the said field may be compiled.

(d) The details of the schemes for the promotion of Medical Value Travel (MVT) in the country are given below:

- i. Ministry of Ayush developed a Central Sector Scheme namely Champion Service Sector Scheme for Medical Value Travel. Under this scheme, financial assistance in the form of Interest Subsidy is provided to private investors for the establishment of 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.
- ii. 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. Through this scheme, Ministry of Ayush is 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.

## (e) The following steps have been taken/are being taken by the Government to promote Medical Tourism in the country:

- i. Meeting of Health working group under India's G20 presidency was held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from 18 th to 19 th January, 2023. During this G20 presidency a side event on Medical Value Travel from 19-20 January, 2023 was conducted.
- ii. Ministry of Ayush has also planned for showcasing of traditional medicine in the side event on Advantage Health Care during the Fourth meeting of Health working group under India's G20 presidency which will be held on 17 th -19 th August, 2023 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. During this G20 health ministerial meeting, Ministry of Ayush has also planned for First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit on 17 th and 18 th August 2023, to mobilize political commitment and evidence-based action on traditional medicine, which is a first port of call for millions of people worldwide to address their health and well-being needs.
- iii. During "Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit" on 20th 22nd April a 'Diplomatic Conclave' was organized with a theme 'Integration of Ayurveda, Yoga/ Traditional Medicine/ Integrative Medicine to achieve UHC-potential and challenges'. During this Conclave Medical Value Travel for a safe and healthy life through Traditional Medicine/Integrative Medicine were also discussed.
- iv. ARound Table and Plenary Session on Heal in India- Medical Value Travel were also organized during Global Ayush Investment and Innovation summit at Gandhinagar, Gujarat to promote India as a destination for Medical Value Travel.
- v. Heal in India is an Initiative of the Government to promote the Medical Tourism in the country. Under this initiative, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare & Ministry of Ayush has been working for developing a One Step, Heal in India portal for promotion of Medical Value Travel.
- vi. Ministry of Ayush signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to work together for the promotion of Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
- vii. InformationBrochureswereprintedanddistributedinWorldAyurveda Congress held in Goa from 08 to 11 December 2022 among the practitioners & Stakeholders of Indian System of Medicine to sensitize them in respect of various initiatives taken by Ministry of Ayush, i.e Heal in India & Heal by India.
- viii. The Ministry of Ayush has also taken the following steps towards the international recognition for Ayush systems of medicine:
- Signed 24 Country to Country MoUs for Cooperation in field of Traditional Medicine and Homoeopathy with foreign nations.
- Signed 46 MoUs with international institutes for undertaking Collaborative Research / Academic collaboration.
- Signed 15 MoUs with international institutes for setting up of Ayush Academic Chairs in foreign nations.
- Supported the establishment of 39 Ayush Information Cells in 35 foreign nations.
- Offers scholarships to foreign nationals for undertaking Ayush courses in recognized Ayush institutions in India under International Ayush Fellowship/Scholarship Programme.
- Signed an agreement with WHO to establish WHO-GCTM in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the ground-breaking Ceremony of which was attended by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Director General of WHO and other esteemed dignitaries on 19.04.2022 in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
- Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga has signed Memorandum of Understanding with following foreign Institutes for the promotion of Yoga:
16. o Divine Values School, Ecuador (DVSE).
17. o India Yoga Center (IYC), Korea.
18. o Leaders Development Institute, Ministry of Sports, Saudi Arabia
- Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga had also signed Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for promotion of Yoga in different countries.

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