Focus on Preventive Athlete Care
India is planning a national sports medicine framework to shift athlete care from a fragmented, injury-driven approach towards a more preventive and standardised model. The initiative comes as the country prepares for a possible bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
The proposed framework will standardise injury screening, diagnosis, rehabilitation and return-to-play protocols. It will also connect medical institutions with athlete training programmes and create a national repository of sports injury data.
Framework Could Launch by 2028
The government is considering a phased rollout by 2028, with the proposal potentially finding a mention in the Union Budget 2027-28. As per ETHealthworld, the framework aims to reduce the burden of sports injuries, support faster recovery and improve athlete availability and training continuity.
It is also expected to strengthen athlete welfare, improve performance outcomes and support long-term sporting careers.
Addressing Gaps in Sports Medicine
Currently, India’s sports medicine ecosystem remains fragmented, with ministries and institutions often working separately. The country also faces limited access to sports medicine specialists, team physicians and sport-specific rehabilitation expertise.
Moreover, the absence of a national sports injury database makes it difficult to develop evidence-based prevention strategies.
Expert Group to Strengthen Sports Science
NITI Aayog recently convened an expert group meeting on sports science under M Srinivas, Member (Health), to discuss the development of a cohesive, evidence-based and athlete-centric sports science ecosystem.
Officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Ayush, Indian Council of Medical Research and Sports Authority of India participated in the discussions.
The proposed framework could therefore strengthen sports medicine infrastructure while supporting India’s broader efforts to improve athlete performance and Olympic preparedness.