UNION BUDGET 2026-27 PROPOSES A SCHEME TO SUPPORT STATES IN ESTABLISHING FIVE REGIONAL MEDICAL HUBS TO PROMOTE MEDICAL TOURISM

• Union Budget 2026-27 (presented 1 February 2026 by FM Nirmala Sitharaman) announced a Scheme to support States in establishing five Regional Medical Hubs in partnership with the private sector to promote India as a medical tourism destination.
• Hubs are conceived as integrated complexes bundling clinical care, AYUSH centres, Medical Value Tourism (MVT) facilitation, diagnostics, post-care and rehabilitation — a PPP push under the "Heal in India" umbrella.
• Part of a broader Budget package also covering a National Institute of Hospitality (upgrade of NCHMCT), upskilling of 10,000 tourist guides at 20 iconic sites (12-week course), 15 archaeological sites development, and Buddhist circuits in 6 NE/Eastern States.