New Delhi | Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, hailed the 2026 Union Budget as a transformative step for India’s traditional medicine ecosystem, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for measures that strengthen Ayush across education, research, healthcare delivery, and global engagement.
Describing the Budget as “visionary and future-oriented,” Jadhav said it underscores the Government’s commitment to building a holistic, inclusive, and globally competitive healthcare system, with Ayush serving as a key pillar of integrative health.
The Finance Minister’s announcements include landmark initiatives to expand Ayush education, research, quality assurance, medical value tourism, and workforce development. These measures aim to position traditional medicine as a driver of preventive healthcare, economic growth, and global wellness leadership.
A historic highlight is the proposal to establish three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIAs), enhancing undergraduate and postgraduate education, advanced research, and tertiary care. This expansion is expected to strengthen evidence-based integrative care and elevate academic standards nationwide.
The Budget also proposes upgrading Ayush pharmacies and drug-testing laboratories to higher certification standards, ensuring better product quality, consumer confidence, and export readiness, while supporting farmers cultivating medicinal plants and MSMEs engaged in processing and manufacturing.
Further consolidating India’s global position, the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre at Jamnagar will be enhanced to boost international research collaboration, training, and policy dialogue, positioning India as a global hub for traditional medicine knowledge.
In a move to integrate healthcare with economic development, Ayush Centres will be part of five proposed Regional Medical Value Tourism Hubs. These hubs will combine advanced medical care with traditional therapies, wellness services, and rehabilitation, generating employment for Ayush practitioners, yoga trainers, therapists, and allied professionals.
Additionally, yoga and wellness competencies will be incorporated into NSQF-aligned caregiver training programmes, targeting 1.5 lakh caregivers in the coming year. This initiative aims to mainstream Ayush-linked skills within preventive and geriatric care, strengthening the care economy.
Jadhav noted that over the past decade, Ayush has achieved unprecedented institutional growth, global recognition, digital expansion, and research advancements. “This Budget consolidates those gains, focusing on quality enhancement, global integration, and making traditional medicine an integral part of India’s healthcare future,” he said.
He added that these initiatives also link health policy with rural livelihoods, youth employment, export growth, and entrepreneurship, reinforcing India’s role as a global leader in evidence-based holistic healthcare.
The Minister reiterated his appreciation to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, stating that the Budget marks a decisive step toward institutionalising integrative healthcare for a healthier, self-reliant, and globally respected India.
