Parliament Question: Integrating Modern Healthcare AYUSH Systems in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3327 ANSWERED ON 07/08/2026 INTEGRATING MODERN HEALTHCARE AYUSH SYSTEMS IN TAMIL NADU 3327. SHRI C N ANNADURAI Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is promoting Tamil Nadu as a major destination under the ‘Heal in India’ initiative by integrating modern healthcare with AYUSH systems, including Siddha, Ayurveda and Yoga and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the Central assistance provided for upgrading hospitals, wellness centres, Siddha institutions and medical tourism infrastructure in Tamil Nadu under the initiative; (c) whether the Government proposes to establish or strengthen dedicated centres offering Panchakarma, Siddha therapies, Yoga-based wellness and other holistic treatment facilities to attract domestic and international medical tourists in Tamil Nadu; and (d) the steps taken by the Government to promote Tamil Nadu's traditional systems of medicine globally, enhance quality accreditation, develop skilled manpower and generate employment through medical value travel and wellness tourism under the ‘Heal in India’ initiative? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) The Government has taken multiple initiatives towards integrating modern healthcare with Ayush systems across the country including Tamil Nadu which are as follows: i. The Ayush Vertical under Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), established by the Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), serves as a dedicated institutional mechanism for planning, monitoring, and supervising Ayush-specific public health programs. This vertical provides technical support to both the Ministries in developing strategies for public health, healthcare, Ayush education, and training. ii. Government of India has adopted a strategy of Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), thus enabling the choice to the patients for different systems of medicines under a single window. The engagement of Ayush doctors/ paramedics and their training is supported by the MoH&FW under National Health Mission (NHM), while the support for Ayush infrastructure, equipment/ furniture and medicines are 1provided by the Ministry of Ayush under National Ayush Mission (NAM) as shared responsibilities. iii. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has developed the ‘Ayush Module -Internship electives’ for MBBS students in Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha system of medicine. As per regulation 10 (7) of National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations-2022, the proportion of modern advances in Syllabus for Ayurveda teaching content shall be up to 40 per cent. Homoeopathic Education Board under National Commission for Homeopathy (NCH) has taken various new initiatives like early clinical exposure, introduction of electives, faculty development program, foundation program, finishing program at end of internship, inclusion of new subjects like pharmacology and psychology to sensitize the students about different systems of medicine. (b) and (c) Public health being a State subject, the primary responsibility to establish new Ayush dispensaries and Ayush Health and Wellness Centres, now renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Ayush) comes under the purview of State Government. However, Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of NAM through State/UT Governments and supporting their efforts in overall development of Ayush system. The State/UT Governments may avail financial assistance by submitting suitable proposals through their State Annual Action Plans as per the provisions of NAM guideline. Under this scheme, the Government of India extended financial assistance to the State of Tamil Nadu of Rs. 308.91 crore from 2014-15 to 2025-26 for various activities including upgrading hospitals, wellness centres, Siddha institutions and medical tourism infrastructure. Further, the National Institute of Siddha (NIS), Chennai, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Ayush, has started the Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS) programme with an annual intake of 60 seats from the academic year 2022–23 and is fully funded through grants-in-aid provided by the Ministry of Ayush for medical education, research, and healthcare services. The institute has an attached Ayothidoss Pandithar Hospital with inpatient bed strength of 220 and provides regular OPD services. Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), an apex body for research in Siddha under Ministry of Ayush, provides health care facilities for various health conditions through its peripheral Institutes / Units in Tamil Nadu. This organization is also fully funded by the Grant-in-aid provided by Ministry of Ayush. (d) The Ministry has taken various initiatives to promote Ayush products, quality accreditation, and development of skilled manpower resulting in employment generation, which inter alia include the following:- i. Ayush Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL) notified by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and supported by Ministry of Ayush oversee exports of products of Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Unani systems and address trade issues pertaining to these sectors. Council 2facilitates capacity building of its members on export procedures; organize Business to Business meetings, international events, roadshows, seminars, workshops on the export of Ayush products, and safeguard the scientific research in the field of Ayush healthcare. ii. The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 have exclusive regulatory provisions for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani, and Homoeopathy (ASSU &H) drugs. It is mandatory for the manufacturers to adhere to the prescribed requirements for licensing of manufacturing units & medicines including proof of safety & effectiveness, compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as per Schedule T & Schedule M-I of the Drugs Rules, 1945 for ASSU&H drugs respectively and also to follow the quality standards of drugs as prescribed in the Siddha Pharmacopoeia. iii. The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), a subordinate organization under Ministry of Ayush, develops pharmacopoeial standards and formulary specifications for Ayush drugs, which serve as the official compendia for determining their identity, purity, and strength. Compliance with these standards is mandatory under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Rules made thereunder. PCIM&H also functions as the Appellate Drug Testing Laboratory for Ayush drugs and conducts regular capacity-building programmes for Drug Regulatory Authorities, Drug Analysts, and other stakeholders on standardization, quality control, and testing methodologies to strengthen the quality assurance system for Ayush drugs. iv. Drug Testing Laboratories are approved by the Ministry of Ayush under Rules 160A to 160J of the Drugs Rules, 1945, for carrying out tests relating to the identity, purity, quality and strength of Ayush drugs. As on date, 118 private Drug Testing Laboratories have been approved by the Ministry across States and UTs for conducting such tests in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs Rules, 1945. v. Ministry of Ayush is implementing a Central Sector Scheme, namely, Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) to support Ayush Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories to achieve higher standards like WHO-GMP and NABL, respectively. vi. To strengthen regulatory oversight, Ayush Vertical in CDSCO facilitates the issuance of the World Health Organization Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (WHO- CoPP) for eligible Ayush drugs through joint inspections with State/UT Licensing Authorities. vii. Ayush Quality Mark Programme was launched by the Ministry of Ayush to strengthen quality assurance, enhance consumer confidence, and improve the Global recognition and competitiveness of Ayush products and services. Ayush Standard Mark and Ayush Premium Mark are awarded to Ayush Drugs by Quality Council of India (QCI) based on third-party assessment of compliance with prescribed national and international quality standards. viii. To develop skilled manpower in the Ayush sector through strengthening of education, training and capacity-building mechanisms, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) have prescribed standards for quality education, including faculty 3requirements, curriculum and clinical training for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy institutions. ix. Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the Health Sector Skill Council (HSSC), established the Sub-Council of Ayush in 2018 to enhance skill development, capacity building, and employability in the Ayush sector. Currently, 19 Ayush courses are ongoing, covering diverse areas like Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurveda, Cupping Therapy, and Naturopathy. x. Under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for upgrading educational institutions, supporting Ayush hospitals and dispensaries, and improving infrastructure for skill development. Continuing Medical Education (CME), skill upgradation programmes and training of healthcare professionals are also supported through Research Councils and National Institutes to enhance the quality and availability of trained Ayush manpower in the country. ******* 4