Five Regional Medical Tourism Hubs Planned Across States
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced plans to support states in setting up five regional medical tourism hubs as part of the Union Budget proposals.Presenting the Budget in Parliament, the Finance Minister said the Centre will launch a dedicated scheme to assist states in establishing these hubs. The proposed medical tourism hubs will function as integrated healthcare complexes, bringing together advanced medical services, education, and research facilities under a single framework.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening India’s position as a global destination for medical tourism while also improving domestic healthcare infrastructure.
₹10,000 Crore Biopharma Shakti Programme Announced
The Finance Minister also proposed the launch of the Biopharma Shakti programme with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over the next five years. The programme is designed to build a strong ecosystem for domestic production of biologics and biosimilars.According to the Budget announcement, the strategy will focus on creating a biopharma-centric network across the country to support innovation, manufacturing, and research in advanced pharmaceutical products.
Expansion and Upgradation of NIPER Network
As part of the Biopharma Shakti strategy, the government plans to establish three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. In addition, seven existing institutes will be upgraded to enhance capacity and capabilities in pharmaceutical education and research.This expansion is expected to support skill development and research aligned with the growing needs of the biopharmaceutical sector.
Network of Clinical Trial Sites and Regulatory Strengthening
The Budget also proposes the creation of a nationwide network of 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites. This move aims to strengthen India’s clinical research ecosystem and improve access to high quality trial infrastructure.Alongside this, the government plans to strengthen the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to align with global standards. The proposal includes faster approval timelines through a dedicated scientific review cadre and specialist support.
Three New All India Institute of Ayurveda Proposed
In a further boost to traditional medicine infrastructure, the Finance Minister announced the proposal to set up three new All India Institute of Ayurveda. These institutes will focus on education, research, and clinical practice in Ayurveda, expanding institutional support for traditional healthcare systems.The announcements form part of a broader push in the Union Budget to strengthen healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and research capabilities across the country.
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