Integrating Modern Medicine With Ayurveda Key To ‘Heal In India’ Success: Piyush Goyal

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that for the ‘Heal in India’ initiative to achieve its full potential, it was essential to integrate modern medicine with India’s traditional systems of healing such as Ayurveda and holistic wellness.

Addressing the 22nd CII Annual Health Summit in the national capital, Goyal said India stood at the threshold of becoming a global benchmark for quality healthcare. “To achieve this vision, all key stakeholders must come together and provide strong leadership,” he said.

The Minister expressed hope that the proposed visa-on-arrival facility for medical tourists, if implemented, would give a further boost to medical travel in India.

The government is fully committed to promoting the healthcare sector, evident in the doubling of medical colleges over the past decade and a major expansion of medical seats planned in the next five years, he added.

Goyal said the government was taking aggressive steps to provide a robust social security net and ensure affordable healthcare for all. “Initiatives such as providing sanitary pads at nominal costs for underprivileged women demonstrate our commitment to inclusive health and well-being. We remain open to ideas and suggestions that can help improve service delivery and promote innovation across the healthcare ecosystem,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s continued focus on affordability, the Minister noted that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on health and life insurance had been reduced from 18 per cent to zero, and duties on medical devices, cancer care drugs and essential medicines had been lowered to make treatments more accessible.

He added that the government was open to exploring further reductions in duties or cesses on essential medicines and medical products to ensure affordable access to life-saving treatments.

Calling on hospitals to collaborate in expanding high-quality nursing capacity, Goyal urged stakeholders to train at least 100,000 new professionals to support both domestic healthcare delivery and the medical tourism sector.

He also stressed the need for hospitals to maintain a balance between serving domestic patients and international visitors. “India must ensure that the growth of medical tourism complements, rather than competes with, healthcare access for its citizens,” he said.

On India’s demographic advantage and the growing global demand for timely medical care, Goyal observed that the country was uniquely positioned to emerge as a trusted global healthcare destination. He encouraged the CII to prepare an action agenda outlining steps to improve healthcare infrastructure, patient accommodation, and the overall experience of medical tourists.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, called for fully harnessing the vast potential of Ayurveda as a cornerstone of holistic healthcare. “Hospitals should actively integrate Ayurvedic treatments and wellness therapies into their offerings, aligning traditional wisdom with modern medical practices,” he said.

He noted that globally, Ayurveda, along with detoxification, yoga, and wellness programmes, had gained popularity among international clients seeking restorative and comprehensive care.

Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman of the CII Steering Group on Health and Healthcare Council, said India was well placed to become a leading global destination for medical travel.

Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, added that the benefits of medical tourism extended beyond attracting international patients. “We must also recognise the jobs it will generate and the broader opportunities it will create across the healthcare and allied sectors,” she said.