THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 10, 2026
In a landmark step towards integrating Ayurveda with India’s mainstream
health insurance framework, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New
Delhi, has signed a Common Empanelment Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the General Insurance Council (GIC), enabling cashless treatment facilities for
eligible Ayurveda-based healthcare services across 32 general insurance
companies.
The MoU was signed on Tuesday, marking a significant breakthrough for
Ayush healthcare delivery in the country. With this agreement, AIIA, an
autonomous institute under the Ministry of Ayush, has been formally empanelled
with all general insurance companies that are members of the General Insurance
Council, allowing insured patients to avail themselves of cashless Ayurveda
treatments at the institute.
The agreement was formally inked by Prof. (Vaidya) P. K. Prajapati,
Director of AIIA, and Shri Segar Sampathkumar, Director (Health), General
Insurance Council, in the august presence of Prof. Bejon Kumar Misra, Chairman,
Core Group of Experts on Ayush Health Insurance. The signing ceremony was
attended by senior officials and faculty members of AIIA, including Prof. (Dr.)
Mahesh Vyas, Dean (Ph.D.), Prof. (Dr.) R. K. Yadav, Dean (PG), Dr. Alka Kapoor,
Director Medical Services, along with other eminent academicians and
administrators.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. (Vaidya) P. K. Prajapati described the
MoU as a transformative moment for Ayurveda in India’s healthcare ecosystem. He
noted that AIIA is now eligible to provide cashless treatment services under
all 32 insurance companies associated with the General Insurance Council.
Expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Ayush and the dedicated AIIA team, he
emphasized that the initiative would greatly enhance access, affordability and
patient trust in Ayurveda-based healthcare, while also easing the financial
burden on beneficiaries.
Congratulating the AIIA team, Prof. Bejon Kumar Misra highlighted the
historic nature of the development, stating that this was the first time in the
country that an Ayush institution has entered into a formal empanelment
agreement with the General Insurance Council. He observed that the availability
of cashless treatment at AIIA is expected to boost patient confidence, widen
outreach to diverse sections of society, strengthen institutional credibility
and support sustainable growth of Ayush healthcare services nationwide.
On the occasion, Prof. Misra also drew attention to a new initiative of the Ministry of Ayush aimed at improving insurance support for Ayush treatments. For the first time, a dedicated Ayush Health Insurance Helpline has been launched to assist beneficiaries with insurance-related queries and enhance awareness about coverage for Ayush therapies. The helpline can be accessed at 1800-11-0008 between 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM on all working days.
Established under the Ministry of Ayush, the All India Institute of Ayurveda is envisioned as an apex institution promoting excellence in Ayurveda through education, research and advanced patient care. With a 200-bed referral hospital, 25 specialty departments, 12 clinical units and multiple interdisciplinary research laboratories, AIIA continues to play a pivotal role in integrating traditional Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scientific practices, both nationally and globally.
