Parliament Question: Integration of AYUSH with Modern Medical System

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1103 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025 Integration of AYUSH with Modern Medical System 1103. Shri Vijay Kumar Dubey: Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state: (a) the steps being taken by the Government for integration of AYUSH with the modern medical system and the promotion of AYUSH system of medicine; (b) the measures taken by the Government to ensure the quality and efficacy of AYUSH doctors and medicines; (c) whether the Government has any plan/has proposed any plan to set up AYUSH hospitals, dispensaries, health and research centres in every district of the country on the lines of modern medical system; 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) The Ministry of Ayush is taking multiple initiatives towards integration of Ayush systems of medicine with modern medicine and for promotion of Ayush systems of medicine: 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. The 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. An Advisory committee was constituted under the chairpersonship of Dr. V.K. Paul, Hon'ble Member (Health), NITI Aayog to study the existing knowledge and efficacy of different models of Integrative Medicine and its benefits at large and to propose a framework of comprehensive Integrative Health Policy. iv. 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. v. 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. 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. vi. Details of initiatives taken by the Research councils and National Institutes under the Ministry of Ayush for integration of Ayush with modern medical system are given as Annexure. viii. To promote Ayush systems of medicine, the 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. (b) To ensure quality and efficacy of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa Rigpa doctors, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) notified NCISM (Ethics and Registration) Regulations 2023. In the said Regulation, under chapter III, rights and privileges of practitioners have been prescribed. Further, under Chapter IV, standards of professional conduct, etiquettes and code of ethics have been prescribed. The National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) ensures quality and efficacy of Homoeopathy doctors through standardized Homoeopathic practices across the country through the implementation of the provisions of National Commission for Homoeopathy (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Code of Ethics for Practitioners of Homoeopathy) Regulation 2022, through the State Homoeopathic Councils/Boards. National Institutes under the Ministry of Ayush strictly adheres to the guidelines set by NCISM and NCH to maintain high standards of education and training of Ayush doctors and students. The Ministry of Ayush has launched the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) (Ayush) and Ayush Hospitals. It is a set of uniform standards for infrastructure, human resources, equipment, medicines, and services. These standards enable States and UT's to deliver consistent and high quality Ayush healthcare services. The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 have exclusive regulatory provisions for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani, and Homoeopathy drugs. Provisions relating to Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Unani Drugs are contained in Chapter IVA and Schedule- 1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and in Rules 151 to 169, Schedules E (I), T & TA of the Drugs Rules, 1945. Further, Second Schedule (4A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 provides standards for Homoeopathic drugs and Rules 2dd, 30AA, 67 (C-H), 85 (A to I), 106-A, Schedule K, Schedule M-I of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 pertain to Homoeopathic 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 ofDrugs Rules, 1945 and quality standards of drugs given in the respective pharmacopoeia. Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), a subordinate office under the Ministry of Ayush lays down the formulary specifications and pharmacopoeial standards for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs which serves as official compendia for ascertaining the quality (identity, purity and strength) of the ASU&H drugs. As per the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules thereunder, the compliance to this quality standards are mandatory for the production of ASU&H drugs being manufactured in India. Ministry of Ayush has implemented a Central Sector Scheme AOGUSY, approved by Standing Finance Committee (SFC) on 16.03.2021. The total Budget allocation to this scheme is Rs. 122.00 crores for five years. The components of AOGUSY scheme are as follows: i. Strengthening and up-gradation of Ayush Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories to achieve higher standards. ii. Pharmacovigilance of ASU&H drugs including surveillance of misleading advertisements. iii. Strengthening of Central and State regulatory frameworks including Technical Human Resource & Capacity Building programs for Ayush drugs. iv. Support for development of standards and accreditation/certification of Ayush products & materials in collaboration with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Quality Control of India (QCI) and other relevant scientific institutions and industrial R&D centers. (c) & (d) Since Public Health being a State subject, setting up of the Ayush hospitals in the country comes under the purview of respective State/UT Governments. However, the Ministry of Ayush has established a vast network of Ayush academic and research institution through National Institutes and Research Councils across the Country. Further, under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM), there is provision of financial assistance for establishment of Integrated Ayush Hospitals. State/UT Governments may avail eligible financial assistance by submitting the suitable proposals through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per the provisions of NAM Guidelines. ****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 under taken by the Council to integrate and promoteUnani 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 Component plan (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 for Cancer 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 at Kelambakkam jointly with Chettinad Academy of Research Education (CARE). NIS has been conducting a Specialty Integrative Traditional Siddha Medicine OPD (SISMO) atCentre 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.