Assocham recently organised the third Health, Beauty and Wellness Symposium 2026 in Chandigarh, India. The event brought together policymakers, healthcare experts, and industry leaders to discuss healthcare, preventive wellness, and medical tourism.

The symposium served as a platform for various stakeholders to highlight regional opportunities and national health priorities. Discussions included potential employment and investment in preventive healthcare, alongside opportunities in health tourism and wellness infrastructure across northern India.

Government Priorities

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria attended as chief guest. He called for collective efforts towards building a TB-Free India and establishing a ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab’ (Drug-Free Punjab).

Kataria acknowledged industry body Assocham’s support for Chandigarh’s TB-Free initiative. He urged stakeholders to assist TB patients through awareness, nutrition, and treatment support programmes. He also emphasised the need for community participation to achieve a drug-free Punjab.

Industry Perspectives

Manav Gupta, Chairman of Assocham Haryana State Council, spoke about employment and investment opportunities within preventive healthcare. Manik Batra, Chairman of Assocham J&K UT Council, highlighted prospects in health tourism and wellness infrastructure specifically in northern India.

Rakesh Bhalla, Chairman of Assocham Chandigarh UT Development Council, underscored the growing importance of the health and wellness sector for innovation, economic growth, and public well-being. Drishmeet Singh Buttar, Co-Chairman, stressed the necessity of stronger collaboration between industry and government to strengthen India’s wellness provision. Ayurveda expert Acharya Manish advocated for preventive healthcare and holistic wellness.

Thematic Sessions

The symposium included three thematic sessions. These focused on:

  • Wellness policies and AYUSH integration
  • The role of AI and startups in preventive healthcare
  • Women’s empowerment through leadership, entrepreneurship, and health

During the event, the Governor felicitated industry members for their contributions to industry growth and social welfare initiatives.

HTN Analysis

The Assocham symposium signals an ongoing focus on developing health tourism and wellness infrastructure, particularly across northern India, driven by public-private dialogue. The emphasis on ‘preventive healthcare’ and ‘holistic wellness,’ coupled with ‘AYUSH integration,’ suggests a strategy to differentiate India’s offering beyond conventional medical treatments. This approach aligns with broader global trends towards wellness tourism, aiming to capture a segment seeking traditional and holistic health services.

However, specific investment figures or concrete programme announcements directly tied to health tourism infrastructure were not detailed in the reporting. The effective integration of AYUSH into broader wellness policies requires clear regulatory frameworks and quality assurance mechanisms to build international patient confidence. While domestic public health campaigns for TB and drug addiction are crucial, their connection to an actionable medical tourism strategy needs further clarification.

What to watch

  • Specific investment announcements or government policies targeting health tourism infrastructure in northern India.
  • Development of accreditation or quality standards for AYUSH facilities catering to international patients, potentially through bodies like NABH or JCI.
  • Any future Assocham or government initiatives that clearly outline a distinction between domestic public health campaigns and medical tourism development efforts.

The news signal for this article was referred from: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3900375-assocham-organises-symposium-on-healthcare-medical-tourism