New Delhi, July 22, 2026
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, has proposed extending AYUSH outpatient departments (OPDs) and treatment services to military and field hospitals across India. In a communication to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, he urged the Ministry of Defence to consider expanding access to traditional systems of medicine for defence personnel.
According to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release dated July 22, 2026, the proposal aims to explore the role of AYUSH services in preventive healthcare, lifestyle management, rehabilitation and general well-being. However, the proposed nationwide expansion has not been confirmed as approved or implemented.
What Has the Ministry of Ayush Proposed?
The Ministry of Ayush has asked the Ministry of Defence to consider establishing AYUSH OPDs and treatment facilities in military and field hospitals.
The proposal seeks to integrate traditional systems of medicine into existing healthcare arrangements for the Armed Forces, complementing the medical services already available to defence personnel.
In his communication, Jadhav highlighted the role of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) in delivering healthcare to personnel working in diverse and often challenging operational environments.
He also emphasised the potential role of traditional systems of medicine within a broader approach to preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare.
Key Features of the Proposal
The proposed expansion includes several areas for consideration:
- AYUSH outpatient departments: Establishing AYUSH OPDs in military and field hospitals.
- Access to traditional healthcare: Exploring additional healthcare options for eligible defence personnel.
- Preventive healthcare: Considering appropriate AYUSH services for health promotion and lifestyle management.
- Rehabilitation and well-being: Exploring potential applications in rehabilitation and general wellness, where clinically appropriate.
- Technical assistance: The Ministry of Ayush has expressed its willingness to provide technical guidance, professional support and institutional cooperation.
- Inter-ministerial coordination: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) could be signed if the proposal moves forward.
The announcement does not specify the number of hospitals that might participate, the proposed budget, the range of services to be offered or an implementation timeline.
Why Consider AYUSH Services in Defence Hospitals?
Military personnel may work in remote locations and demanding operational environments, making access to appropriate healthcare an important consideration.
The proposal seeks to explore whether AYUSH services could complement existing healthcare arrangements through selected preventive healthcare, lifestyle management and rehabilitation services.
The practical contribution of any intervention would depend on the specific service, available evidence, appropriate clinical assessment and the patient’s healthcare needs.
The proposal does not establish that all AYUSH interventions are suitable for every condition. Treatment decisions should be guided by qualified healthcare professionals, patient safety considerations and applicable clinical protocols.
Previous Collaboration Between the Ayush and Defence Ministries
The proposed expansion follows earlier collaboration between the Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Defence.
In April 2022, the two ministries signed agreements to establish Ayurveda centres in 37 hospitals operated by Cantonment Boards and 12 hospitals under the Armed Forces Medical Services. The initiative aimed to make Ayurveda services available to cantonment residents, including Armed Forces families and civilians using participating hospitals.
In March 2023, the Ministry of Ayush and the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare under the Ministry of Defence signed an MoU to introduce Ayurveda OPD services in 10 Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinics.
These initiatives demonstrate previous efforts to introduce Ayurveda services in selected defence-related healthcare facilities. They should not, however, be interpreted as confirmation that the broader expansion proposed in July 2026 has been approved.
What Could the Proposal Mean for Defence Personnel?
If approved and implemented, the proposal could expand access to AYUSH consultations and selected services at participating military and field hospitals.
Potential areas of development include:
- Access to AYUSH consultations at participating facilities.
- Additional options for appropriate preventive and lifestyle-related healthcare.
- Coordination between AYUSH practitioners and other healthcare professionals.
- Consideration of suitable services for rehabilitation and general well-being.
These are potential benefits rather than confirmed outcomes. The announcement does not provide implementation details or clinical results for the proposed expansion.
What Happens Next?
The proposal must be considered by the Ministry of Defence before its implementation can be established.
The Ministry of Ayush has expressed its willingness to provide technical and institutional support and to enter into an MoU to facilitate implementation, if agreed upon by the relevant authorities.
Further official information is needed to determine whether the proposal will be approved, which hospitals may participate, what services will be available and when implementation could begin.
Defence personnel should consult their respective military hospitals or authorised defence healthcare channels for information about services currently available at their facilities.
The announcement does not introduce a new public application process or confirm a nationwide launch date.
Why Is This Development Important?
The proposal highlights the possibility of greater coordination between India’s traditional systems of medicine and established public healthcare institutions.
For the Armed Forces, any expansion would need to be integrated carefully into existing healthcare arrangements, with attention to clinical standards, patient safety, professional responsibilities and continuity of care.
The eventual significance of the proposal will depend on decisions by the Ministry of Defence, the scope of implementation and the quality of any services introduced.
Conclusion
The Ministry of Ayush has proposed extending AYUSH outpatient departments and treatment services to military and field hospitals to explore additional healthcare options for defence personnel.
If approved, the initiative could build on earlier cooperation between the Ayush and Defence ministries and expand access to selected traditional healthcare services. However, the announcement dated July 22, 2026, does not confirm approval or nationwide implementation.
Further official updates will be needed to establish the participating hospitals, available services and implementation timeline.
Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Ayush, July 22, 2026.
