As Yoga and Ayurveda Become Part of India’s Global Health Diplomacy, Experts Press for Credible Standards, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• India is integrating Yoga and Ayurveda into its global health diplomacy, aiming to expand their reach through medical tourism, international education, and trade agreements.
• The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), operationalized in June 2026, include provisions for traditional medicine.
• The India-European Union FTA, signed in January 2026, allows AYUSH practitioners to use Indian qualifications in EU countries without existing regulatory frameworks.
• The AYUSH visa, introduced in 2023, facilitated travel for 3,375 foreign nationals to India for AYUSH treatments between January 2023 and December 2025.
• The AYUSH Fellowship Scheme supports 260 students from 32 countries studying AYUSH in Indian institutions.

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Detailed Insights:

• The strategic shift aims to transform AYUSH from a cultural export into a formalized health and services opportunity in global markets.
• The India-Oman CEPA marks India's first comprehensive commitment on traditional medicine across all modes of supply.
• The India-New Zealand FTA includes a dedicated "health and traditional medicine" annex and provides structured mobility pathways, including a visa quota for AYUSH practitioners.
• Despite diplomatic efforts, experts emphasize the need for credible standards, evidence, regulation, and practitioner quality for AYUSH to succeed internationally.
• Foreign medical arrivals in India increased from 1.83 lakh in 2020 to 6.44 lakh in 2024, though specific data for AYUSH patients is not consolidated.
• The Ministry of AYUSH also promotes international cooperation through training, seminars, conferences, and knowledge exchange programs.

Key Concepts Involved:

• AYUSH: An acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homeopathy, representing India's traditional and alternative medicine systems.
• Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): A broad trade agreement covering trade in goods, services, investment, and other areas of economic cooperation.
• Free Trade Agreement (FTA): A pact between two or more countries to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them.
• Medical Tourism: The practice of traveling across international borders to obtain medical care.