NITI Aayog's Strategic Roadmap to Make Ayurveda a Global Healthcare Leader

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**NITI Aayog** released a report titled **Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global**.
This report analyzes why **Ayurveda** stays behind **Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)** in international markets.
It outlines a phased action plan from **2025 to 2047** to help **Ayurveda** gain global recognition by India's independence centenary.

Exports of Ayurveda and herbal products grew from **USD 1.09 billion in 2014** to **USD 2.16 billion in 2023**, reaching around **150 countries**.
Nearly **30 countries** now formally recognize Ayurveda using different licensing systems and academic partnerships.
India has over **355,000 trained Ayurveda practitioners**, but **95%** of them work only within India.
Research on Ayurveda takes place in nearly **70 countries**, aided by the **WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC)** in **Jamnagar, Gujarat**.
Institutions like the **University of Mauritius** and **Western Sydney University** host **Ayush academic Chairs**, though a uniform global curriculum is missing.
The **WHO** included **Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani (ASU)** in the **ICD-11** classification under its **TM-2** module.
The **WHO** started coding ASU treatments under the **ICHI** framework to improve tracking, billing, and global clinical research.

Ayurveda focuses on preventive health and overall wellness, matching the modern global demand for holistic healing.
Its **Prakriti-based** system uses plant therapies to provide personal health solutions for each individual.
Backed by **over 5,000 years** of knowledge, global **Yoga** adoption, and **WHO ICD-11** inclusion, Ayurveda holds high cultural trust.
Ayurveda works well alongside modern medicine, especially for **chronic diseases, preventive health, and rehabilitation**.

Many foreign nations do not treat Ayurveda as an official medical system and lack clear regulations for it.
A shortage of certified Ayurveda doctors abroad and missing international study standards slow down its growth.
Because Ayurvedic treatment depends on the individual, producing **Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)** evidence remains difficult.
High testing costs, uneven **Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)** quality, and a lack of health insurance coverage limit foreign sales.

Programs like **Ayush Chairs, Ayush Scholarships, and the Ayush Visa** can help Ayurveda expand across borders.
Working closely with the **GTMC** and applying **ICHI** health codes will build international confidence in Ayurveda.
The **USD 1 trillion global wellness market**, alongside rising **Medical Value Travel (MVT)**, offers huge growth options.
Conducting solid scientific research and sharing clear evidence will boost Ayurveda's international standing.

Lack of coordination between doctors, scientists, colleges, factories, and regulators delays international success.
Exporters sell most Ayurvedic goods as **dietary supplements** instead of **prescription medicines**, reducing their market value.
Rapid growth of **Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)**, backed by government support, creates stiff competition.
Balancing core ancient Ayurvedic concepts with strict modern scientific rules remains a tough task.

**TCM** has over **34,000 licensed acupuncturists** in the US across **47 states**, while **Ayurveda** has only about **5,000 practitioners** abroad.
Exports of **TCM** reach **USD 5.4 billion**, compared to **USD 2.16 billion** for **Ayurveda in 2023**.
China built over **30 overseas TCM centres** using the **Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)**, whereas India relies on **Ayush Information Cells** and the **GTMC**.
Countries like the **US, Japan, and Germany** offer health insurance for **TCM**, while **Ayurveda** insurance remains limited outside India.
**TCM** benefits from a dedicated **ISO technical committee** for quality standards, which **Ayurveda** currently lacks.

Form a high-level **Mission Steering Group (MSG)** under the Ayush Minister to guide trade, education, research, and diplomacy.
Launch a **Global Ayurveda Register (GAR)** under **NCISM** to verify credentials and offer professional training for global doctors.
Build a **Global Information Portal** offering clear details on foreign visas, licenses, and official health rules.
Speed up **WHO-GMP** quality certificates for top Ayurvedic medicine makers and publish a public directory of certified facilities.
Create an **Export Edition of the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia** that sets strict safety standards for raw materials and heavy metals.
Launch a real-time **Ayurveda Trade Dashboard** and assign accurate **HS codes** to boost trade under **Free Trade Agreements**.

Register main Ayurvedic medicines under the **European Union (EU)** **Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD)** framework.
Test medical insurance coverage for Ayurvedic remedies in selected **OECD** nations on a pilot basis.
Sign **Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs)** with **G20, BRICS, and ASEAN** partners to allow doctors to work abroad easily.
Offer Ayurveda elective courses in foreign medical colleges using the existing **Ayush Chair** network.
Create medical tourism centers abroad, starting in **Mauritius**, with bundled **Ayush Visa** deals covering treatments and online follow-ups.
Conduct clinical trials in multiple countries via **WHO Collaborating Centres** and update the **Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)**.

Integrate Ayurveda officially into the national healthcare systems of **at least 20 countries**.
Secure health insurance cover in **at least 10 countries** for conditions like back pain, knee arthritis, stress, and women's health.
Establish a network of **International Ayurveda Centres of Excellence** providing medical care, training, research, and public health tracking.
Position Ayurveda globally as an evidence-backed, highly trusted healthcare choice by **2047**.

**NITI Aayog**'s roadmap turns Ayurveda from wellness spa treatments into a fully regulated global pharmacy system.
Combining ancient knowledge with modern scientific testing will help India match the international success of **Traditional Chinese Medicine**.
Standardized licensing and quality control convert India's cultural heritage into real economic strength.
This long-term effort aims to make Ayurveda a core pillar of worldwide healthcare by **2047**.