NITI Aayog Unveils Strategic Roadmap for Global Ayurveda by 2047
NITI Aayog has released a comprehensive strategic roadmap to establish Ayurveda as a globally recognized healthcare system and a stronger export industry by 2047. The report, titled 'Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global', recommends a phased strategy that includes expanding international recognition, strengthening research, upgrading manufacturing standards, and promoting medical value travel.
Aligning with Viksit Bharat@2047 Vision
The roadmap aligns with India's broader developmental vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri said in his message in the report: "The roadmap outlined in this report is both ambitious and pragmatic. By adopting a phased approach extending up to 2047, it aligns well with India's broader developmental vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. The focus on building globally recognized standards, enhancing manufacturing and export competitiveness, promoting medical value travel, and leveraging India's diplomatic and cultural capital offers a clear pathway for positioning Ayurveda as a credible component of global healthcare systems."
Current Status and Challenges
Prepared by PwC under NITI Aayog's Research Scheme, the report assesses Ayurveda's current global footprint and identifies policy measures needed to improve its availability, acceptability, and global propagation. It notes that while Ayurveda's international presence is expanding, its full potential remains constrained by fragmented regulations, limited scientific validation, restricted practitioner mobility, and gaps in globally aligned standards.
According to the report, Ayurveda products are now exported to around 150 countries, with exports rising from USD 1.09 billion in 2014 to USD 2.16 billion in 2023. However, most products continue to be sold overseas as dietary supplements because of regulatory barriers, limiting the export of higher-value finished Ayurvedic medicines.
Key Recommendations
To address these gaps, the roadmap recommends:
- Creating a Global Ayurveda Register
- Expanding mutual recognition agreements with foreign countries
- Introducing Ayurveda electives in international medical schools
- Establishing a World Federation for Ayurveda and Yoga
- Strengthening evidence-based research
- Upgrading India's manufacturing standards to WHO-GMP norms
- Creating an export-focused Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia
- Setting up overseas finishing units
- Publishing annual global safety and evidence reports
Strengthening Research and Education
The report also calls for strengthening international research by establishing more WHO collaborating centres, creating an International Ayurveda Research Alliance, promoting global clinical trials, and expanding collaborations between industry and academia. It recommends developing International Ayurveda Centres of Excellence and introducing joint degree programmes with leading global medical universities to build an international practitioner base.
Economic Opportunity and Future Vision
Highlighting the economic opportunity, the report said the globalisation of Ayurveda has the potential to generate growth across health products, wellness services, and medical value travel. It added that India should move Ayurveda beyond its current perception as a wellness and complementary therapy system towards becoming an evidence-based and internationally accepted healthcare model.
"The findings and recommendations of this report are expected to support evidence-informed policymaking and contribute in strengthening India's position as a global leader in traditional medicine and promoting holistic and sustainable healthcare solutions," the report said.
