Executive Summary:
The Ministry of AYUSH and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed an agreement on May 24, 2025, to develop Traditional Medicine intervention categories for the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Indonesia on January 25, 2025, for cooperation in traditional medicine quality assurance. The Ministry of AYUSH is implementing the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) to support States/UTs, including Odisha, in developing and promoting AYUSH systems.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **WHO Collaboration:**
* Agreement signed with WHO to develop Traditional Medicine intervention categories and index for ICHI, focusing on Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems.
* Aims for global standardization and recognition of AYUSH treatments.
* Supports integration of AYUSH systems into global healthcare, boosting AYUSH-based medical tourism.
* Includes the introduction of the Ayush AY Visa for foreign nationals.
* **India-Indonesia Partnership:**
* MoU signed with the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority for cooperation in traditional medicine quality assurance on January 25, 2025.
* No other collaborations on Traditional Medicine Quality Assurance are currently under consideration.
* **National AYUSH Mission (NAM):**
* Implemented through State/UT Governments for overall development, promotion, and quality assurance of AYUSH systems.
* Financial assistance provided to States/UTs based on their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs).
* Provisions include:
* Operationalization of Ayush Health and Wellness Centres (Ayushman Arogya Mandir Ayush).
* Colocation of Ayush facilities at PHCs, CHCs, and DHs.
* Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals and Dispensaries.
* Construction of new Ayush Dispensaries.
* Setting up of integrated Ayush Hospitals.
* Supply of essential drugs to Government Ayush facilities.
* Ayush Public Health Programmes.
* Establishment of new Ayush colleges and infrastructural development of existing institutions.
* **Assistance to Odisha through NAM:**
* GIA released and expenditure reported for the years 2014-15 to 2024-25.
* Grants sanctioned for supply of essential medicines to Hospitals/Dispensaries.
* Support for colocation of Ayush facilities at PHCs, CHCs, and DHs.
* Support for upgradation of Ayush Hospitals/Dispensaries.
* Grants approved for setting up of integrated Ayush Hospitals in Dhenkanal, Behrampur and Balasore.
* 422 Ayushman Arogya Mandir Ayush approved and functional.
Impact Analysis:
* **Ministry of AYUSH:**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the agreements and mission, enhancing the credibility and global recognition of AYUSH systems.
* Action Required: Continue implementing NAM, provide financial assistance, and monitor progress in States/UTs.
* **State/UT Governments (including Odisha):**
* Impact: Responsible for utilizing the NAM framework to develop and promote AYUSH systems in their respective regions.
* Action Required: Submit State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) to access financial assistance, implement approved activities, and report expenditures.
* **AYUSH Practitioners and Institutions:**
* Impact: Benefit from enhanced standardization, infrastructure development, and integration into the global healthcare system.
* Action Required: Align practices with international standards, participate in public health programs, and contribute to the development of AYUSH education and research.
* **Foreign Nationals:**
* Impact: Improved access to Ayush-based medical tourism.
* Action Required: Apply for the Ayush AY Visa to avail Ayush treatments.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ayush: The Indian government ministry responsible for developing and promoting AYUSH systems of medicine.
World Health Organization (WHO): An international organization working on international health issues.
International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI): A classification system developed by the WHO for health interventions.
Ayurveda: A traditional system of medicine originating in India.
Siddha: A traditional system of medicine originating in South India.
Unani: A traditional system of medicine originating in ancient Greece.
Republic of Indonesia: A country that has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India on cooperation in the field of traditional medicine quality assurance.
Odisha: A state in India that is receiving support for AYUSH infrastructure under the National Ayush Mission (NAM).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO- 87
ANSWERED ON 25/07/2025
“AYUSH-based Medical Tourism”
*87. Shri Baijayant Panda:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) whether the recent agreement with World Health Organisation (WHO) on the International
Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) is likely to aid AYUSH-based medical
tourism;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether similar collaborations such as the recent India-Indonesia partnership on quality
assurance in traditional medicine are being explored;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of the steps taken by the Government to help States like Odisha leverage this
framework including support for AYUSH infrastructure?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SH. PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) & (b) An agreement was signed between the Ministry of Ayush and the World Health
Organization (WHO) on May 24, 2025 towards developing Traditional Medicine intervention
categories and index for the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI), with a
holistic approach and focus on Traditional Medicine systems of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani.
The agreement marks the beginning of work on a dedicated Traditional Medicine module under
the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). This development aligns with
India’s vision of bringing its rich heritage of traditional wisdom into the global healthcare
mainstream, backed by scientific classification and international standards.This development of Traditional Medicine intervention categories and index for the
International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) ensures global standardization and
recognition of Ayush treatments. A new integration of Ayush (AY) Visa for foreign national is
also in place. Together these initiatives enhance credibility, accessibility, and integration of
Ayush systems into global healthcare and give a boost to the Ayush based medical tourism.
(c) & (d) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indonesian Food and Drug
Authority of the Republic of Indonesia and Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine &
Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush of the Republic of India on cooperation in the field of
traditional medicine quality assurance was signed and exchanged on 25th January 2025. As on
date, no other collaboration on Traditional Medicine Quality Assurance is under consideration
with any country.
(e) Ministry of Ayush is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission
(NAM) through State/UT Governments for overall development, promotion and quality
assurance of Ayush system including traditional medicines across the country which also
includes States like Odisha. Under NAM, Ministry supports the efforts of State/UT Governments
by providing financial assistance to them under different activities as per the provision of NAM
guidelines against their submitted State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs). The Mission inter-alia
makes provision for the following activities: -
(i) Operationalization of Ayush Health and Wellness Centres now renamed as Ayushman
Arogya Mandir (Ayush) by upgrading existing Ayush dispensaries and Sub health
Centres.
(ii) Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health
Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).
(iii) Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals.
(iv)Upgradation of existing Government/Panchayat/Government aided Ayush
Dispensaries/ Construction of building for existing Ayush Dispensary (Rented/
dilapidated accommodation)/ Construction of building to establish new Ayush
Dispensary in the area where there are no Ayush facilities available.
(v) Setting up of 10/30/50 bedded Integrated Ayush Hospitals.(vi)Supply of essential drugs to Government Ayush Hospitals, Government Dispensaries
and Government/Government aided Teaching Institutional Ayush Hospitals.
(vii) Ayush Public Health Programmes.
(viii) Establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of Ayush
teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector.
(ix) Infrastructural development of Ayush Under-Graduate Institutions and Ayush Post-
Graduate Institutions/ add on PG/ Pharmacy /Para-Medical Courses.
Status of assistance provided to State of Odisha through National Ayush Mission(NAM) is
attached in Annexure.Annexure
Status of assistance provided to State of Odisha through National Ayush
Mission(NAM)
1. GIA released and expenditure reported for the years 2014-15 to 2024-
25.
(Rs. in lakhs)
Amount Expenditure reported by the
Matching
Sl. Approved/ Central States/UTs Government
State
No Sanctioned Share
Share
. /Allocated released Central State Total
released
Share share Expenditure
1. 18024.79 11079.39 6945.40 9035.69 5605.55 14641.24
2. GIA sanctioned for supply of essential medicines to Hospitals & Dispensaries
under NAM from 2014-15 to 2024-25
(Rs. in lakhs)
Sl. Hospitals Dispensaries
No. No. of Units Amount No. of Units Amount
(cumulative) sanctioned (cumulative) sanctioned
1. 9 11.25 2302 1073.49
3. Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) from 2014-
15 to 2024-25
(Rs. in lakhs)
Sl. No. of recurring Amount No. of Non- Amount
No. Units sanctioned Recurring sanctioned
(cumulative) Units
1. 4500 2206.66 0 0.004. Co-location of Ayush facilities at Community Health Centres (CHCs) from
2014-15 to 2024-25
(Rs. in lakhs)
No. of recurring No. of Non-
S. Amount Amount
Units Recurring
No. sanctioned sanctioned
(cumulative) Units
1. 1226 651.63 0 0.00
5. Co-location of AYUSH facilities at District Hospitals (DHs) from 2014-15 to
2024-25
(Rs. in lakhs)
Sl. No. of recurring Amount No. of Non- Amount
No. Units sanctioned Recurring sanctioned
(cumulative) Units
1. 14 51.00 2 80.00
6. Upgradation of AYUSH Hospitals & Dispensaries from 2014-15 to 2024-25
(Rs. in lakhs)
Upgradation of AYUSH
Upgradation of AYUSH Dispensaries
Hospitals
S N o.l . g n i r r u c e R) s l a t i p s o H d e n o i t c n a n o N f o- s t i n U g n i r) s l a t i p s d e n o i t c n a g n i r r u c e R s t i n U) s e i r a s n e d e n o i t c n a n o N f o- s t i n U g n i r) s e i r a s n e d e n o i t c n a
f o . o( s t i n s . t m . o Nr u c eo H ( s . t m f o . o p s i D s . t m . o Nr u c ep s i D s . t m
NU A R A N ( A R( A
1. 38 190.51 2 85.00 2369 236.90 56 1120.007. Grants approved for setting up of integrated Ayush Hospital from 2014-15 to
2024-25
Funds
No. Sanctione
Sl. Location System of of d
State/UT Status
No. (District) medicine Bed Allocated
s (Rs. In
Lakhs)
Ayurveda,
Homoeopathy Construction
Dhenkanal 50 800.00
and Yoga & Completed
Naturopathy
Ayurveda,
Homoeopathy Under
1 Odisha Behrampur 50 800.00
and Yoga & Construction
Naturopathy
Ayurveda,
Homoeopathy Under
Balasore 50 400.00
and Yoga & Construction
Naturopathy
8. Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) approved and No. of AAM (Ayush) functional
Sl. No. Approved AAM (Ayush) Functional AAM (Ayush)
1 422 422
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