Urges doctors and entrepreneurs to tap Goa’s Ayurveda potential under new policy
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the inauguration of the first International Conference on Ayurveda and Wellness in Panaji on Friday.
PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday pitched Ayurveda and wellness as the next big driver of medical tourism in the State, urging doctors, researchers and entrepreneurs to take the lead in developing projects in this sector.
Speaking at the inauguration of the first International Conference on Ayurveda and Wellness in Panaji, Sawant said the government has rolled out the Goa Wellness and Ayurveda Policy 2026 to facilitate practice for AYUSH professionals and allied fields. “Through this policy, we want Goa’s identity to go beyond sea, sun and sand. Ayurveda is not just a system of medicine but a way of life, balancing body and mind, nature and man,” Sawant, himself an Ayurveda doctor, said.
The CM assured support for Ayurvedic research, skill development, nature-friendly projects and responsible tourism. He announced that the conference will be held annually in Goa to strengthen the State’s position as a hub for wellness tourism. “Ayurveda not only cures disease but also promotes health. It is affordable, accessible, and the greatest gift India has given to the world,” Sawant added, stressing the need for the younger generation to study and preserve this tradition.
The event was attended by Patanjali Director Acharya Balkrishna, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanawade, oncologist Dr. Rajendra Badve, Dr Sneha Bhagwat, Dr PK Prajapati, Pratima Dhond and other dignitaries.
Highlighting health concerns in Goa, Acharya Balkrishna said one in four Goans suffers from diabetes, calling it an alarming trend. He urged greater use of Ayurvedic methods to tackle lifestyle diseases and warned against attempts by Western institutions to patent Indian Ayurvedic medicines.
“This heritage must be protected,” he said.
Dr. Rajendra Badve noted that cancer incidence in India and Goa is relatively lower than in Western countries. He said adopting Ayurveda and a healthy lifestyle could reduce cancer cases by up to 70 per cent.
The conference brought together experts from across the country to discuss Ayurveda’s role in preventive healthcare and its potential to boost Goa’s tourism economy.
