Parliament Question: Integration of Ayush systems into the mainstream healthcare system

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 324 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2026 Integration of Ayush systems into the mainstream healthcare system 324 # Shri Tejveer Singh: Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state: (a) the concrete initiatives taken by Government in recent years to integrate Ayush systems (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) into the mainstream healthcare system in the country; (b) the details of the recently launched new policies/programs related to the Ayush sector; And (c) the progress made so far in the utilization and institutional expansion of Ayush services, as a result of these initiatives? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) 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) in recent years to integrate Ayush systems (Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) into the mainstream healthcare system in the country; 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 being supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under National Health Mission (NHM), while the support for Ayush infrastructure, equipment/ furniture and medicines is being provided by the Ministry of Ayush under National Ayush Mission (NAM). As on 30.06.2025, NHM supports co-location of Ayush services in health facilities such as PHCs (6,206), CHCs (3,133), DHs (472) and other health facilities (3,283) by allocating Ayush services in 13,094 health facilities. Also, a total of 24,266 Ayush doctors, 2,275 Ayush paramedics and 3,416 Ayush Pharmacists have been deployed in the States/UTs with NHM funding support. (b) & (c) National Health Policy, 2017 emphasized nurturing the Ayush system of medicine through the development of infrastructural facilities of teaching institutions and initiatingcommunity-based Ayush interventions for preventive & promotive healthcare. Three- dimensional mainstreaming at primary, secondary and tertiary care level is also emphasized to be continued. The Ministry of Ayush is taking multiple initiatives for promotion and institutional expansion of Ayush systems of medicine and some of the major initiatives 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 Ministries in developing strategies for public health, healthcare, Ayush education, and training. ii. Ministry of Ayush and MoH&FW have jointly established Integrated Ayush Departments in Central Government Hospitals to promote integrative healthcare. As part of this initiative, the Department of Integrative Medicine has been set up and is operational at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. iii. 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 provided by the Ministry of Ayush under National Ayush Mission (NAM) as shared responsibilities. iv. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has developed the Ayush Module - Internship Electives for MBBS for 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. Homoeopathy 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.v. Details of initiatives taken by the Research councils and National Institutes under the Ministry of Ayush for integration of Ayush with contemporary medical system are given as Annexure. vi. To promote Ayush systems of medicine, Ministry of Ayush is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme National Ayush Mission (NAM) and Central Sector Schemes providing financial assistance for promotion and popularization of Ayush systems of medicine at National and International level namely, Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY), Promotion of International Cooperation (IC), Promotion of Information, Education and Communication (IEC), Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants (CDSMMP), Ayurswasthaya Yojana and Ayurgyan. Further, National Institutes and Research Councils under Ministry of Ayush are engaged in coordinating, formulating, developing, promoting and popularizing Ayush system of healthcare. Two Statutory Bodies under Ministry of Ayush i.e. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) are working as a regulatory commission for promotion of Ayush education. Ministry of Ayush is also digitally promoting the Ayush System of Medicine on its various Social Media Platforms. *****Annexure Details of initiatives taken by the Ministry of Ayush through its Research councils and National Institutes S. No Research councils/ National Details of initiatives Institute 1. Central Council for Research The Central Council for Research in in Ayurvedic Sciences Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has undertaken (CCRAS) research studies such as Operational study to explore the feasibility of integrating Ayurveda with modern system of medicine in a tertiary care hospital (Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi) for the management of Osteoarthritis (Knee), Feasibility of introducing the Indian System of Medicine. (Ayurveda) in the National Reproductive and Child Health services at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level in Himachal Pradesh and Integration of AYUSH systems in the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) and Feasibility of introducing Ayurveda Intervention in Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) in PHCs of the Selected district (Gadchiroli) of Maharashtra (Effectiveness of Ayurvedic intervention for Ante-Natal care (Garbhini Paricharya) at Primary Health Care level. A Multi Centre Operational Study). Further, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and CCRAS has taken and initiative to set up Ayush-ICMR Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research (AI-ACIHR), at AIIMS to conduct research on identified areas focusing on integrative healthcare under Extra Mural research Scheme of ICMR. 2. Central Council for Research Central Council for Research in Unani in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) Medicine (CCRUM) has established four re- location centers at Dr. RML Hospital, Dr. DDU Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi and J.J. Hospital at Mumbai. Collaborative projects with modern academic/ research Institutions have also been undertaken by the Council to integrate and promote Unani Medicine. 3. Central Council for Research The Central Council for Research in in Homoeopathy (CCRH) Homoeopathy (CCRH) is working towards integration of Homoeopathy with mainstream healthcare by undertaking research in collaboration and cooperation in the field of integrative medicine. The Council has co- location of homoeopathy treatment centre in allopathic hospital for providing treatment on various clinical conditions at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Hospital, New Delhi, Delhi Cantonment General Hospital, New Delhi, Clinical trial Unit, at BRD Medical College and Hospital, Gorakhpur, UP, Civil Hospital, Aizwal, Mizoram and District hospital, Dimapur, Nagaland. The Council has also taken initiative to link Homoeopathy along with mainstream healthcare set-up by undertaking various Public Health programmes such as the Integration of NPCDCS programme for Homoeopathy, Swasthya Rakshan program (SRP), the programme Homoeopathy for Healthy teething', a component of "Homoeopathy for healthy child and Schedule Caste (SC) Component plan. 4. Central Council for Research The Central Council for Research in Siddha in Siddha (CCRS) (CCRS) has taken initiatives for integrating Siddha practices with the modern healthcare system by encouraging scientific research and clinical trials to validate the efficacy and safety of Ayush treatments along with modern treatments. Integrated Siddha cancer OPD has been functioning at All India Institute of Ayurveda campus and Siddha cancer OPD at Safdarjung hospital aiding the Palliative care of cancer patients through Siddha system through Siddha Clinical Research Unit, Safdarjung, New Delhi under CCRS. CCRS has signed MoU with AIIMS Rishikesh for initiating collaborative research activities forCancer Management, Reproductive & Childcare and Regenerative Medicine. 5. Central Council for Research The Central Council for Research in Yoga & in Yoga & Naturopathy Naturopathy (CCRYN) is a part of the ICMR (CCRYN) Task Force on Multi-centric Study project on Heart Failure across the country. 6. All India Institute of Ayurveda In All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), (AllA) New Delhi, integrative medical services are available under Centre for Integrative Ayush Therapy (Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy), Centre for Integrative Cancer Therapy, Centre for Integrative Dentistry, Centre for Integrative Critical Care & Emergency Medicine, Centre for Integrative Orthopedics, Centre for Integrative Dietetics and Nutrition and Causality OPD Section. Integrated services are also provided through Satellite Clinical Services Units established at Integrative Medical Services Unit at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, Integrative Medical Services Unit AIIMS Jhajjar and Centre for Integrative Oncology at National Cancer Institute - AIIMS, Jhajjar. Further, a Centre for Integrative Oncology (CIO) has been established at AllA, New Delhi as a joint venture of AIIA and Indian Council of Medical Research National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR-ICMR). Ayush Journal of Integrative Oncology (AJIO) is being published from Centre for Integrative Oncology (CIO) at AIIA. This Institute also has an International Collaborative Centre for global promotion and research in Ayurveda. 7. The Institute of Teaching & The Institute of Teaching & Research in Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) Ayurveda (ITRA) conducts integrative research with the modern medical system. 8. National Institute of Siddha To promote integrated research in the Siddha (NIS) system of medicine and provide Siddha treatment to the patients visiting Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), National Institute of Siddha (NIS) inaugurated an upgraded Siddha specialty OPD atKelambakkam jointly with Chettinad Academy of Research Education (CARE). NIS has been conducting a Specialty Integrative Traditional Siddha Medicine OPD (SISMO) at Centre for Integrative Medicine Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka. Further, NIS started a Siddha Integrated Cancer Care Centre(S-IC Care Centre) to provide integrated treatment to cancer patients. 9. Morarji Desai National 1. MDNIY is running 4 Yoga Centres at Govt. Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) Therapy Modern Medicine Hospital in Delhi. 2. MDNIY is running preventive Health Care units of Yoga in 20 CGHS Dispensaries in Delhi NCR. 3. MDNIY is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Medicine (Yoga) Traditional for 4th consecutive terms from 2013. ****