Government Report Shows Women Make Up 43 Percent of Ayush Workforce

Women make up 43 percent of the workforce in India's Ayush services sector, with their share crossing 50 percent in several organised segments including hospitals, day-care centres, educational institutions and wellness establishments, according to a report released by the Central government on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

Sector Growth And Revenue

The Ayush Services Sector Report was prepared by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries and released on Ayurveda Day 2026. The report estimates that the sector supports 1.76 million livelihoods across healthcare, wellness, education and allied services. Women's representation is highest in spas and wellness resorts at over 60 percent, followed by educational institutions at 58 percent, day-care centres at 57 percent and hospitals at 53 percent. The Ayush services economy was valued at $36.92 billion in 2024-25 and has grown at a compound annual rate of 16.91 percent since 2022-23.

Revenue Breakdown And Travel

Standalone clinics form the largest segment, generating $16.21 billion or 43.9 percent of sector revenue, while day-care centres add $10.13 billion. Together, these two segments bring in over 70 percent of total revenue. Ayurveda remains the largest individual system at $17.73 billion, making up about 48 percent of total services revenue. Meanwhile, the wellness segment grew at a compound annual rate of 21.29 percent, and yoga centres saw about 75 percent revenue growth over two years. Medical value travel generated $1.77 billion in 2024-25, with international patients accounting for 5 percent of patient volumes but 15 to 25 percent of hospital revenue through stays lasting five to 11 days. The assessment projects the economy could reach between $216 billion and $318 billion by 2047.

Context

Ayush stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy, representing traditional systems of medicine and wellness in India. The government actively promotes these systems alongside modern medicine to expand healthcare access and boost preventive health. The sector's growth reflects a rising global and domestic demand for alternative therapies and holistic wellness practices.