Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2026-27 today. In her record 9th budget speech, she announced major steps for the healthcare sector in India. The biggest highlight is the decision to set up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIA) across the country. Along with this, the government plans to establish regional medical centers to boost health services.
New Ayurveda Institutes and Medical Hubs
The government is focusing heavily on traditional medicine. To support this, three new Ayurveda AIIMS will be built. The exact locations for these institutes will be decided after talking to state governments. The Ministry of Ayush will handle these projects.
Apart from Ayurveda, the Finance Minister announced the setting up of 5 Regional Medical Hubs. These hubs will be made in partnership with private companies (PPP model). They will work as integrated healthcare complexes. The main goal of these hubs is to promote ‘Medical Value Travel’ or medical tourism in India. Also, the WHO Global Medical Center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, will be upgraded to become a global hub for traditional treatments.
Jobs and Mental Health Focus
The budget also looks at employment in the health sector. The government has set a target to train 1.5 lakh caregivers to help patients and the elderly. For mental health, a new ‘NIMHANS 2.0’ will be set up to serve North India. This shows a serious approach towards mental well-being.
The Finance Minister also launched the ‘Bio-Pharma Shakti’ initiative. A fund of ₹10,000 crore is allocated for this to match international standards in medicine. For animal care, the number of veterinary professionals will be increased to 20,000, and support will be given to vet colleges and labs.
