25-Jul-2022: E-Medical Visa facility for nationals of 156 countries to promote medical tourism in the country
Recognising medical value travel and wellness tourism as important sectors having the potential of accelerating the country’s development, Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps to promote India as a Medical and Wellness tourism destination.
In order to create a robust framework and synergy amongst the Central Government Ministries, State Governments and Private Sector for promoting India as a Medical and Wellness Tourism destination, Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism. The strategy document focuses on the following key pillars:
- Develop a brand for India as a wellness destination
- Strengthen the ecosystem for medical and wellness tourism
- Enable digitalization by setting up Online Medical Value Travel (MVT) Portal
- Enhancement of accessibility for Medical Value Travel
- Promoting Wellness Tourism
- Governance and Institutional Framework
In order to provide dedicated institutional framework to take forward the cause of promotion of Medical Tourism, Ministry of Tourism has constituted a National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board with the Hon'ble Minister (Tourism) as its chairman.
As part of its on-going activities, Ministry of Tourism, releases global print, electronic and online media campaigns in important and potential markets overseas, under the ‘Incredible India’ brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country. Digital promotions are also regularly undertaken through the Social Media accounts of the Ministry on different themes including the theme of Medical Tourism.
'Medical Visa’ has been introduced, which can be given for specific purpose to foreign travellers coming to India for medical treatment. To promote Medical Tourism in the country, Government of India is extending e-medical visa facility to the nationals of 156 countries.
Ministry of Tourism provides financial Assistance under Market Development Assistance Scheme to Medical Tourism Service Providers accredited by NABH for participation in Medical/ Tourism Fairs, Medical Conferences, Wellness Conferences, Wellness Fairs and allied Road Shows. Financial assistance to the tune of Rs.17,70,499 have been released to the Wellness Tourist Service Providers and the Medical Tourist Service Providers under the Marketing Development Assistance Scheme during the last four financial years.
In order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the Government has announced various measures for revival of tourism sector in the country, which include medical and wellness tourism.
22-Jul-2022: Steps taken to promote traditional medical tourism
During the inaugural ceremony of the “Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit” held on 20th April 2022 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Prime Minister made the announcement to launch a special category of Ayush visa for tourists visiting India for Ayush medical tourism/education/treatment including Yoga. Accordingly, the Ministry of Ayush has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to work out the modalities for creation of separate category for Ayush Visa/eVisa. It is a part of Heal in India campaign to promote traditional medical tourism.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the Ministry of Ayush has been working with CDAC and SEPC for developing one step portal for the convenience and ease of credible information for those who want to take treatment in India from abroad
- Chintan Shivirs were organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to promote Heal in India and Heal by India. The Ministry of Ayush has also participated in these Chintan shivir. Certain action points were identified in the Chintan Shivir to promote traditional medicine in Tourism in India.
- A Round table and plenary sessions on heal in India were also organized during global Ayush Investment and Innovation summit at Gandhinagar, Gujrat to promote India as the leading destination for medical value travel.
Ministry of Ayush has prepared a concept note on Ayush Park.
20-Jul-2021: Government has taken several steps to promote India as a Medical and Health Tourism Destination
Key Highlights:
- National Medical & Wellness Tourism Board constituted to promote Medical/Wellness Tourism, AYUSH
- A draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism formulated
- ‘E- Medical Visa’ introduced for 166 countries
- Assistance provided under Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme to medical/wellness Tourism Service Providers &Centres
- Medical & health tourism promoted at World Travel Mart (London), ITB, Berlin, Arabian Travel Mart etc.
Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps to promote India as a Medical and Health Tourism Destination.
In order to provide dedicated institutional framework to take forward the cause of promotion of Medical Tourism, Wellness Tourism and Yoga, Ayurveda Tourism and any other format of Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry has constituted a National Medical & Wellness Tourism Board with the Minister (Tourism) as its Chairman. The Board works as an umbrella organization that promotes this segment of tourism in an organized manner.
Ministry of Tourism has formulated a draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism. In order to make the document more comprehensive, Ministry of Tourism has invited feedback/ comments/ suggestions on the draft National Strategy and Roadmap from identified Central Ministries, all the State Governments/UT Administrations and industry stakeholders.
Brochure, CDs and other publicity material to promote Medical and health tourism have been produced by the Ministry and the same are widely distributed and circulated for publicity in target markets.
Medical and health tourism have been specifically promoted at various international platforms such as World Travel Mart, London, ITB, Berlin, Arabian Travel Mart etc.
Medical Visa’ has been introduced, which can be given for specific purpose to foreign travelers coming to India for medical treatment. ‘E- Medical Visa’ has also been introduced for 166 countries.
Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance under Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme to Medical/Wellness Tourism Service Providers and Wellness Centres accredited by NABH for participation in Medical/Tourism Fairs, Medical Conferences, Wellness Conferences, Wellness Fairs and allied Road Shows.
5-Apr-2022: Update on National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment
National Programme for Control of Blindness was launched in 1976. From 2017 onwards, the programme was strengthened and expanded to cover all kinds of visual impairment as well. It was renamed as National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI) and is implemented all over the country uniformly, with a goal of reducing the prevalence of avoidable blindness to 0.25% by the year 2025. Apart from cataract, refractive errors, corneal blindness and childhood blindness, the programme is equally focusing on other eye diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), age related macular degeneration etc. associated with life style diseases like diabetes and aging process. Preventive and curative eye care services are also provided through Ayushman Bharat-Health & Wellness Centres in the country.
In order to assess the programme, the “National Blindness & Visual Impairment Survey” was carried out during 2015-19 which showed reduction in the prevalence of blindness from 1% (2007) to 0.36% (2019).
The programme is monitored at national level in consultation with the State Government. At States/UTs level to check the rising number of cases of blindness, functionaries from Panchayats, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) staff, ASHA workers, NGO and other voluntary groups like Mahila Mandals, are involved by the District Health Societies.
2-Feb-2022: National Nutrition Mission
POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched on 8th March, 2018 with the vision of a malnutrition-free India. The Abhiyaan aims to reduce malnutrition from the country in a phased manner and achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner. The Abhiyaan has been rolled out in all the 36 States/UTs.
The recently released report of NFHS-5 (2019-21) by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has validated the efforts of POSHAN Abhiyaan, reflecting a decline in key nutrition indicators. Among children under 5 years of age, Stunting has reduced from 38.4% to 35.5%, while Wasting has reduced from 21.0% to 19.3% and Underweight prevalence has reduced from 35.8% to 32.1%.
Further, Mission Poshan 2.0, an integrated nutrition support programme which subsumes Supplementary Nutrition Programme and POSHAN Abhiyaan ahead, has been announced in budget 2021-2022 for all the States/UTs. It intends to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition.
Any unutilized fund / excess expenditure incurred during a particular year under POSHAN Abhiyaan is adjusted in the allocation/release of the succeeding year.