AyurSEVA – the Community Initiative of AyurVAID Hospitals

AyurVAID’s vision is to lead the transformation of Ayurveda into a mainstream healthcare system – beneficial for all segments of society, including low-income households. It is widely understood that the rising prevalence of chronic diseases has the most dramatic effect on the poor and their ability to earn a living, causing them to slip into the poverty trap. However, rather than take a traditional “two pocket” approach to reaching low-income segments with healthcare (i.e. making money in the higher-end markets and then providing charity to low-income groups), AyurVAID believes that the ultimate model of corporate social responsibility is to build an inclusive but commercial business model: where low-income consumers are genuine customers with the dignity to choose and participate and which, critically, can run on a sustainable and scalable basis so as to impact the maximum number of people.

To that end, AyurVAID has developed the “AyurSEVA” brand, which is a community initiative of AyurVAID Hospitals, offering AyurVAID services at affordable rates to low-income communities typically earning between US$ 125 - 175 per month. With identical medical standards, AyurSEVA units are able to bring down the cost of treatment by offering a general ward format and employing a lower cost of establishment and operations.

The result is an In-Patient service offering for chronic disease at the rate of Rs 750/- ($19) per day, even in cities like Mumbai and Bangalore. By taking this approach, AYurVAID is increasing access to healthcare for the poor in a sustainable and scalable manner, while simultaneously expanding AyurVAID’s market presence and building a long-term customer base for the company.