New Delhi, July 3: NITI Aayog has outlined an ambitious national strategy to transform Ayurveda into a globally recognised healthcare system by 2047, identifying regulatory barriers, limited international acceptance and fragmented branding as key challenges that must be addressed to expand its presence beyond India’s borders.
Prepared in collaboration with PwC, the report titled Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global presents a phased plan to strengthen Ayurveda’s scientific credibility, regulatory acceptance and international accessibility by the centenary of India’s Independence.
According to the report, Ayurveda currently enjoys formal recognition in nearly 30 countries, although the level of licensing and integration into national healthcare systems varies significantly. India has more than 355,000 trained Ayurveda practitioners, but nearly 95 per cent continue to practise within the country, leaving only a limited international workforce.
The report notes that exports of Ayurvedic products have steadily increased, doubling from USD 1.09 billion in 2014 to USD 2.16 billion in 2023 and reaching nearly 150 countries. However, most of these products continue to be classified internationally as dietary supplements rather than medicines because of regulatory restrictions in foreign markets.
International research collaborations have also expanded, with around 70 countries participating in Ayurveda-related studies. The establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar has further strengthened the system’s international credibility, while scholarships for foreign students and Ayush academic chairs at overseas universities have supported educational outreach. However, the report states that globally standardised curricula are still under development.
Despite growing visibility through wellness tourism and integrative medicine centres, Ayurveda continues to face limited acceptance in mainstream healthcare systems. Insurance coverage for Ayurvedic treatments remains uncommon outside India, while inconsistent adoption of Good Manufacturing Practices, quality assurance concerns and issues related to contaminants continue to affect wider acceptance.
The report compares Ayurveda’s global expansion with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), noting that China’s success has been driven by sustained government support, significant investment in research and development, international diplomacy and globally recognised standards. It highlights that China has established more than 30 overseas TCM centres, integrated TCM into free trade agreements and secured international recognition through ISO standards, while Ayurveda continues to face fragmented regulations, limited practitioner licensure abroad and the absence of harmonised pharmacopeial standards.
Since the establishment of the Ministry of Ayush in 2014, India has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen Ayurveda’s international presence. These include signing more than 75 memoranda of understanding with foreign governments and institutions, setting up Ayush Information Cells in 39 countries, launching the Ayush Visa in 2022 to promote medical value travel, creating the Ayush Export Promotion Council, collaborating with the WHO to establish the Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, integrating Ayurveda into the WHO’s ICD-11 classification system and promoting digital platforms such as the Ayush Grid and the m-Yoga app.
The report identifies regulatory harmonisation, stronger evidence-based clinical research and wider insurance integration as priority areas requiring immediate attention. It also recommends developing a unified global branding strategy supported by multilingual public awareness campaigns, culturally adaptable communication, myth-busting initiatives and transparent sourcing and manufacturing practices to improve public confidence.
Medical Value Travel has been identified as another major opportunity. The roadmap proposes developing international Ayurveda hubs, domestic wellness zones and integrated Ayush Visa packages that combine diagnostics, treatment and tele-follow-up services.
The report also recommends leveraging India’s diplomatic network by positioning embassies as Ayurveda information centres and establishing premium Ayurveda Experience Centres at prominent international locations, including the WHO headquarters in Geneva, the UN Headquarters in New York and Trafalgar Square in London.
The roadmap has been structured in three phases. Between 2025 and 2029, it proposes accelerating WHO-GMP certification for major manufacturers, establishing flagship international Ayurveda centres, developing standardised clinical protocols and creating a WHO-aligned Global Ayurveda Register. By 2035, it recommends securing registrations under the European Union’s Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive, piloting insurance programmes in selected countries and expanding professional mobility for practitioners. By 2047, the roadmap aims to secure formal recognition for Ayurveda in at least 20 national healthcare systems while establishing sustainable research ecosystems and internationally accepted quality assurance frameworks.
The report proposes that implementation be overseen by a Mission Steering Group chaired by the Minister of Ayush, supported by a Global Ayurveda Forum and transparent progress dashboards. It concludes that strengthening research, harmonising regulations and building a unified global identity will be critical to positioning Ayurveda as a credible global healthcare system and an important pillar of India’s soft power by 2047.
