Budget 2026 | Big push for medical tourism: FM Sitharaman proposes five regional Ayush hubs

In Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined an ambitious plan to position India as a global hub for medical value tourism, announcing government support for setting up five regional medical tourism hubs in partnership with the private sector. The scheme aims to help states build large-scale, integrated healthcare destinations that attract international patients while strengthening domestic healthcare infrastructure. These hubs are envisioned as comprehensive healthcare complexes, bringing together modern hospital infrastructure, diagnostics, post-treatment care, rehabilitation services, and AYUSH systems under one umbrella. Beyond boosting foreign exchange and global reputation, the initiative is expected to generate diverse employment opportunities for doctors, nurses, allied health professionals (AHPs), technicians, and support staff, turning healthcare into both an economic and employment growth engine.