**Executive Summary**
This is a response from the Ministry of AYUSH to Unstarred Question No. 1357 in Lok Sabha, answered on February 6, 2026. The questions pertain to AYUSH practitioners and health specialists in Coal India Limited (CIL) hospitals, specifically in Peddapalli district. The response details the current status of AYUSH facilities, training, research, budget allocation, and integration efforts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **AYUSH Dispensaries and Practitioners:**
* 20 Government AYUSH dispensaries (8 Ayurveda, 5 Unani, 6 Homoeopathy, 1 Naturopathy) are functioning in Peddapalli district, Telangana, each with a Medical Officer (MO).
* MOs are trained to treat various ailments, including respiratory ailments caused by coal dust exposure. They received additional training for musculoskeletal disorders and skill development from October to December 2025 at the Indian Institute of Health & Family Welfare, Hyderabad.
* **Dedicated AYUSH Treatment Centers and Protocols:**
* Dedicated AYUSH treatment centres are established near coal belt region for treatment of pneumoconiosis and other mining related ailments.
* **Research:**
* No specific research studies have been conducted on the efficacy of AYUSH treatments for coal workers' pneumoconiosis in collaboration with medical institutions.
* **Budget Allocation:**
* Each dispensary receives essential medicines under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM).
* Ayurveda/Unani dispensaries receive ₹2.00 Lakhs per annum.
* Homoeopathic dispensaries receive ₹1.00 Lakhs per annum.
* Medicines are procured through e-tenders via the e-Aushadhi Portal.
* Panchakarma equipment (massage table, Shirodhara, steam bath chambers) has been supplied to 100 selected Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Ayush) in Telangana, including Peddapalli district.
* **Integration Framework:**
* 9 AYUSH Units (5 Ayurveda, 1 Unani, 1 Naturopathy, 2 Homoeopathy) are co-located with PHCs/CHCs in the coal belt region of Peddapalli district.
* An integration framework specifically between AYUSH practitioners and occupational health specialists in Coal India Limited hospitals has not been developed.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: AYUSH Practitioners**
* **Impact:** Practitioners are provided with essential medicines and equipment. They receive training in treating various ailments, including respiratory issues related to coal dust exposure and musculoskeletal disorders.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the provided resources and training to deliver AYUSH treatments effectively.
**Stakeholder: Coal Mining Workers and their Families**
* **Impact:** Increased access to AYUSH treatments through the established dispensaries and co-located units. Comprehensive healthcare coverage.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available AYUSH services for healthcare needs.
**Stakeholder: State Government of Telangana**
* **Impact:** Responsible for reporting the status of AYUSH dispensaries, budget utilization, and integration efforts.
* **Action Required:** Continue reporting and coordinating with the Ministry of AYUSH to ensure effective implementation of AYUSH programs.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of AYUSH**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing the implementation of AYUSH programs and responding to parliamentary inquiries.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the progress of AYUSH dispensaries and integration efforts in Peddapalli district, considering the lack of a specific integration framework with Coal India Limited hospitals.
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRY OF AYUSH: Primary government body addressed in the question and providing the answer.
Peddapalli: District in Telangana where AYUSH services for coal workers are being implemented.
National AYUSH Mission (NAM): Centrally Sponsored Scheme used for funding AYUSH dispensaries.
Coal India Limited: Organization mentioned in the context of integrated healthcare for mining workers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1357
ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026
AYUSH Practitioners and Health Specialists in CIL Hospitals
1357. Shri Vamsi Krishna Gaddam:
Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:
(a) the number of AYUSH practitioners trained specifically in treating respiratory ailments
caused by coal dust exposure and deployed in Peddapalli during the last five years;
(b) the establishment of dedicated AYUSH treatment centres near coal mining operations in
Peddapalli and the specific therapeutic protocols developed for treating pneumoconiosis and
other mining-related occupational diseases;
(c) the research studies conducted on the efficacy of AYUSH treatments for coal workers'
pneumoconiosis in collaboration with medical Institutions and the outcomes achieved in
treating affected miners;
(d) the budget allocation for procuring specialized AYUSH medicines and equipment for
treating respiratory conditions in coal belt regions and the procurement process followed for
ensuring quality; and
(e) the integration framework developed between AYUSH practitioners and occupational
health specialists in Coal India Limited hospitals to provide comprehensive healthcare
coverage to mining workers and their families?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) & (b) As reported by State Government of Telangana, 20 Government Ayush dispensaries
including 08 Ayurveda, 05 Unani, 06 Homoeopathy and 01 Naturopathy Units are functioning
in Peddapalli district, with one Medical Officer (MO) at each facility in their respective
system of medicine. All these MOs are trained to treat various ailments including standard
treatment protocol. Apart from this, those doctors have recently under gone training for
musculoskeletal disorders, Skill development programmes and in treating respiratory ailments
1caused by Coal dust exposure, during the period from October, 2025 to December, 2025 at
Indian Institute of Health & Family Welfare, Hyderabad.
(c) No such specific research study conducted.
(d) As reported by State Government, under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush
Mission (NAM), each Dispensary is being provided the requisite Essential Medicines @ Rs.
2.00 Lakhs per annum for Ayurveda/Unani Dispensaries and Rs. 1.00 Lakhs per annum for
Homoeopathic Dispensaries. The Essential Medicines are being procured through e-tenders
and supplied to the dispensaries through central store i.e., Government Indian Medicines
Pharmacies by using e- Aushadhi Portal. In addition to that, Panchakarma equipment i.e.,
Massage Table, Sirodhara and Steam bath chambers have been supplied to the selected (100)
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Ayush) in Telangana including Peddapalli district.
(e) As reported by State Government, at present 09 Ayush Units (Ayurveda-5, Unani-1,
Naturopathy-1, Homoeopathy-2) are functioning duly co-located with PHCs/CHCs in
Peddapalli district, which are mainly located at coal belt region. However, the integration
framework has not been developed specifically between Ayush practitioners and occupational
health specialists in Coal India Limited hospitals.
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