In a move to enhance the healthcare sector, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has suggested establishing five regional medical hubs to promote medical value tourism in India. These hubs will feature Ayush centers, diagnostic infrastructure, and post-care rehabilitation facilities, offering various employment opportunities for medical professionals. Additionally, the budget includes plans for three new All India Institutes for Ayurveda to cater to the global demand for Ayurvedic treatments and products.
The proposal also involves upgrading Ayush pharmacies and drug testing labs, along with enhancing the WHO Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, to support evidence-based research on traditional medicine. Under the second Kartavya scheme, efforts will focus on upgrading existing institutions for allied health professionals and establishing new institutions in the public and private sectors, covering disciplines like optometry, radiology, and behavioral health.
Furthermore, the government aims to add 1 lakh allied health professionals over the next five years and develop a robust care system for geriatric and allied sectors. Sitharaman also introduced programs aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework to train multiskilled caregivers, incorporating core care and allied skills such as wellness, yoga, and mediative assistive devices.
