Women's Participation in AYUSH Service Sector Rises to 43 Percent of Total Workforce
Women now comprise 43 percent of the total workforce in the AYUSH service sector, with participation exceeding 50 percent in organized sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.
The AYUSH service sector is creating new opportunities for employment and economic participation for women. According to a recent assessment, women's share in the total workforce of the AYUSH service sector stands at 43 percent. In organized sectors, including hospitals, day-care centers, educational institutions, and wellness establishments, women's participation has been recorded at over 50 percent.
According to the AYUSH Service Sector report released by RIS on the occasion of Ayurveda Day 2026, women's participation is over 60 percent in spas and wellness resorts, 58 percent in educational institutions, 57 percent in day-care centers, and 53 percent in hospitals. The AYUSH service economy encompasses Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homeopathy.
In the year 2024-25, the estimated size of the AYUSH service sector was 36.92 billion US dollars, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.91 percent since 2022-23. The sector currently directly supports approximately 1.76 million livelihoods across healthcare, wellness, and education. More than 1 million of these livelihoods are linked to local and independently operated clinics, highlighting the sector's extensive impact in rural areas.
Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, stated that the expansion of this sector is not only strengthening India's healthcare system but also opening new avenues for entrepreneurship, skill development, and women's participation. Meanwhile, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of AYUSH, noted that the expansion of organized AYUSH services through quality standards, skill development, and digital facilities could increase both the number and quality of employment opportunities.
On the revenue front, independent and local clinics are the largest contributors, accounting for 43.9 percent of total revenue, or approximately 16.21 billion US dollars. Day-care centers contribute 10.13 billion US dollars in revenue. Ayurveda constitutes the largest segment of the sector, contributing approximately 48 percent (17.73 billion US dollars) of the total revenue.
The AYUSH sector is also advancing rapidly in Medical Value Travel (MVT), generating 1.77 billion US dollars in revenue during 2024-25. Although foreign patients make up only 5 percent of the total patient volume, their contribution to hospital sector revenue ranges between 15 and 25 percent.
Assessments suggest that the AYUSH service sector could grow from its 2024-25 size of 36.92 billion US dollars to between 216 and 318 billion US dollars by the year 2047. This growth is expected to create significant future employment opportunities in fields such as research, digital health, and medical value travel.
