India’s Ayush Services Economy Could Reach $318 Billion by 2047: Government

The Ministry of Ayush said the sector has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 16.91 per cent since FY23 and currently supports around 1.76 million livelihoods. It also generated an estimated $1.77 billion in revenue through Medical Value Travel.

The findings were presented during the 11th Ayurveda Day celebrations in Nagpur and highlighted the growing contribution of Ayush services to healthcare, wellness, employment and medical tourism.

“The findings of this landmark study affirm that Ayush is not merely a cultural inheritance but a dynamic and high-growth engine of India’s economy. The Ayush sector is poised to play an increasingly important role in healthcare, wellness, employment and global economic engagement, while contributing to our vision of a healthy and self-reliant India,” said Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, said the study represents the first attempt to measure the economic contribution of the Ayush services sector through a nationally scaled, establishment-level survey covering the major Ayush systems.

The ministry said the findings provide an evidence base that can support future investment decisions, policy planning and reforms in the sector.

Professor Sachin Kumar Sharma, Director General of RIS, said the scale and growth of the sector demonstrated that it was becoming a significant part of India’s services economy.

“The findings showed that an economy of $36.92 billion, growing at close to 17 per cent annually, is no longer a peripheral sector but a dynamic, knowledge-based service economy,” Sharma said.

Clinics and day-care centres account for the largest share of the Ayush services economy, together generating more than 71 per cent of total sector revenue. Standalone clinics contributed an estimated $16.21 billion, while day-care centres accounted for $10.13 billion.

Ayurveda remained the largest individual system within the sector, generating around $17.73 billion, or nearly 48 per cent of total Ayush services revenue.

Women account for 43 per cent of the overall Ayush services workforce, with their representation exceeding 50 per cent in several organised segments. Women make up more than 60 per cent of the workforce in wellness establishments providing Ayush-based services, while their shares stand at 58 per cent in educational institutions, 57 per cent in day-care centres and 53 per cent in hospitals.

The report also highlighted the contribution of international patients. Although they account for only around 5 per cent of total patient volumes, foreign patients are estimated to contribute between 15 per cent and 25 per cent of revenues generated by the hospital segment.

The government said the findings point to the growing economic role of Ayush services and their potential contribution to India’s healthcare, wellness and Medical Value Travel sectors over the coming decades.