There is a need to develop certification standards for wellness centres aligned with global standards to position India as a premier wellness destination, according to experts.
The Ayush Quality Mark programme launched by the Prime Minister to showcase India’s Ayush sector globally covers wellness centres among other products and services.
“In the ecosystem of Ayush healthcare in India, a gap is observed that there is little or no certification of wellness centres nor any standards prescribed,” lament experts.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) prescribes two international standards – ISO 17679 for Wellness Spas and ISO 21426 for what are called Medical Spas which are supervised by clinicians. Neither of them has gained any traction. The Medical Spa standards focus on natural healing and is not even suitable for Ayush sector.
Anil Jauhri, chair of the Working Group set up by the Ministry of Ayush said that ISO 21426 was modified to suit Ayush sector needs by first defining what an Ayush Wellness Centre meant– that it would have both clinical and fitness or rejuvenation components and then prescribing requirements suitable for Ayush sector. To facilitate certification or accreditation, it also developed both certification and accreditation procedures which are available in public domain.
“The modified standard has also been submitted to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) with a request to develop an ISO standard through the ISO committee on Ayurveda and Yoga for wellness centres. This is how India can take lead in developing international standards in Ayush sector,” Jauhri further informed.
The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), which has huge interest in medical and wellness tourism, has come forward to initiate a certification programme based on available ISO standards, customized to Indian needs, if necessary. It has joined hands with the healthcare industry body, the Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI) for the purpose to integrate healthcare expertise.
The SEPC and AHPI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October 2025 to jointly develop ISO-based certification schemes for wellness centres, aiming to elevate India's wellness and Medical Value Travel (MVT) sector by ensuring world-class quality and global recognition. This collaboration is aimed at addressing the lack of standardized certification, strengthening India's position as a premier wellness destination by building credibility and encouraging adoption of international standards.
Jauhri concluded, “It is expected that with the above measures, India would be able to showcase its world class wellness services and promote wellness tourism.” |