Parliament Question: AYUSH Wellness Centre in Rural and Backward Areas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2107 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025 AYUSH Wellness Centre in Rural and Backward Areas

2107. Shri Zia Ur Rehman:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that in various parts of the country, particularly in rural and backward regions, AYUSH wellness centres, dispensaries, and hospitals are either nonfunctional, severely understaffed or lacking in basic medicines and infrastructure, thereby failing to provide proper healthcare to the general public;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any steps are being taken by the Government to strengthen AYUSH infrastructure, ensure adequate availability of doctors, medicines, and paramedical staff in such centres, and make traditional systems of medicine more accessible and reliable for the rural population, under schemes like the National AYUSH Mission (NAM); and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d) Public Health being a State Subject, the primary responsibility regarding deployment of manpower, strengthening of infrastructure, operationalization of AYUSH wellness centres, dispensaries and hospitals in various parts of the country, including rural and backward regions, lies with the respective State/UT Government. However, under Centrally Sponsored Scheme i.e. National Ayush Mission (NAM), Ministry of Ayush is supporting the efforts of State/UT Governments for overall development & promotion of Ayush system in the country by providing financial assistance to them for different activities proposed through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per the provisions of NAM guideline. The Mission inter-alia makes provision for following activities:

(i) Operationalization of Ayush Health & Wellness Centres (AHWCs), 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) 1(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

(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 Programs

(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. ***** 2