Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday, 19 June 2026, inaugurated the Sanyog ISM Yoga Summit 2026 at Dona Paula, organised by the Goa Council of Ayurvedic and Other Allied Indian Systems of Medicine in association with the Department of Ayush. The summit was held on the theme 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing', bringing together experts, doctors, researchers and wellness practitioners for deliberations on yoga, Ayurveda and preventive healthcare.

Context

The summit convened ahead of International Yoga Day on 21 June, serving as a platform for meaningful dialogue on holistic wellness and healthy living. CM Sawant also felicitated doctors, clinics and hospitals for their contribution to the 'Health with Ayurveda – Checked by Doctor 2.0' campaign, through which, according to the Chief Minister's post, over 40,000 citizens have benefited from Ayurvedic consultations, screenings and wellness guidance.

The event underscores Goa's active positioning within India's broader AYUSH ecosystem, combining state-level outreach with recognition for frontline practitioners who have delivered community health services under the campaign.

Policy Backdrop

The Ministry of AYUSH was established in November 2014 to mainstream traditional medicine systems including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy into public healthcare. International Yoga Day was first observed on 21 June 2015, following a resolution championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.

The National AYUSH Mission, launched in 2015, has provided central funding to strengthen state-level AYUSH infrastructure and services. Coastal states such as Goa have integrated AYUSH into both primary care and wellness tourism, targeting non-communicable diseases and ageing populations. CM Sawant acknowledged PM Modi's leadership in giving Yoga and Ayurveda 'unprecedented global recognition' and promoting India's wellness traditions internationally.

Stakeholders and Impact

The summit's theme of healthy ageing is directly relevant to Goa's demographic profile, as the state has one of the older population structures among Indian states, making preventive and integrative healthcare a pressing policy priority. AYUSH practitioners, wellness tourism operators and elderly citizens stand as the primary beneficiaries of the initiatives highlighted at the summit.

The felicitation of healthcare providers under the 'Health with Ayurveda – Checked by Doctor 2.0' campaign signals the state government's intent to institutionalise Ayurvedic outreach as a complement to conventional primary care, rather than treating it as a peripheral offering.

What's Next

With International Yoga Day on 21 June 2026 days away, state governments across India are expected to intensify AYUSH-linked public events and outreach drives. For Goa, attention will turn to whether the momentum from the summit translates into specific health-budget allocations or expanded AYUSH infrastructure announcements in upcoming state assembly sessions.

The integration of wellness tourism with preventive healthcare — a model Goa has been developing — could see further policy articulation as the state seeks to attract both domestic and international visitors seeking certified Ayurvedic and Yoga-based health programmes.