# Export of evidence-based wellness services: An opportunity to actualize India's demographic dividend

## TL;DR

India can boost economic growth by exporting wellness services, especially healthcare and traditional medicine, to meet global demand.

## Contribution

The paper proposes leveraging India's trained professionals and traditional medicine systems to export wellness services and gain international recognition.

## Key findings

- India's service sector, particularly healthcare and wellness, has significant growth potential.
- Government initiatives are needed to incentivize exporters and gain international recognition for Indian wellness certifications.

## Abstract

India's demographic dividend offers a critical opportunity to drive sustained economic growth over the next three decades, driven by increasing its share in global trade. Up until 1700, India had a thriving industrial manufacturing economy, producing about 25 % of the world's industrial output, making it the most important manufacturing centre in international trade. Based on recent trends, we argue that the service sector presents considerable growth potential. Within the service sector, despite a small share currently, the healthcare and wellness demonstrate particular promise. Leveraging India's vast pool of trained professionals and its established expertise in traditional systems of medicine, notably AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy), suitable governmental initiatives are needed based on a strategy and a road map to incentivize exporters, get international recognition of Indian certifications, particularly by developed nations. This is essential for the growth of the export of wellness services from India, but can also help reduce the burgeoning healthcare costs, inequity and address the needs of ageing populations in developed countries.