India Central Budget 2026 Sets Up Regional Medical Hubs And Expands Ayush And Allied Health Training

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a scheme to support states in setting up five regional medical hubs, aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure and positioning India as a global destination for medical value tourism.

The proposed hubs will function as integrated healthcare complexes, combining medical services, education and research. They will house Ayush centres, medical value tourism facilitation centres, advanced diagnostic facilities, and infrastructure for post-treatment care and rehabilitation. Sitharaman said the initiative is expected to generate wide-ranging employment opportunities for medical service providers and allied healthcare professionals.

Highlighting the economic potential of traditional medicine, the Finance Minister said exports of high-quality Ayurveda products would directly benefit farmers involved in cultivating medicinal herbs. As part of the initiative, the government plans to set up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda and upgrade existing Ayush pharmacies and drug testing laboratories to improve quality, certification and global competitiveness.

To address the growing demand for healthcare services, Sitharaman announced that 1.5 lakh caregivers will be trained in the coming year, alongside the creation of dedicated hubs to promote medical value tourism.

She also said existing institutions for allied health professionals (AHPs) will be upgraded, while new AHP institutes will be established across both the public and private sectors. These measures, she added, aim to build a strong and comprehensive care ecosystem, including geriatric and allied healthcare services.

Additionally, the Finance Minister announced plans to upgrade the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar to strengthen evidence-based research, training and awareness in traditional medicine.