Parliament Question: Integration of AYUSH with Modern Medicine

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3268 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025 Integration of Ayush with Modern Medicine 3268 Shri MaddilaGurumoorthy: Smt. Malvika Devi: Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state: (a) the steps taken by the Government to promote and develop AYUSH system of medicine in the country; (b) whether the Government is aware that the integration of traditional systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) with modern medicine is gaining momentum globally and is being encouraged by the World Health Organization (WHO) and if so, the details thereof; (c) the steps taken by the Government to promote such integration, especially with respect to clinical trials, validation and cross-disciplinary collaborations. (d) whether it is a fact that lack of robust scientific validation and evidence-based research remains a key constraint for wider acceptance of traditional medicine, if so, the details thereof; and (e) the details of funds allocated and utilized by the Government during the last five years for research, clinical trials and evidence-based validation of traditional systems of medicine, along with initiatives to strengthen research institutions under AYUSH? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a)Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) since 2014 through State/UT Governments and supporting their efforts for overall development and promotion of Ayush system in the country by providing financial assistance under different activities as per provision of NAM guidelines against the proposals received through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs). The Mission inter-alia makes provision for the following activities: - (i) Ayush Health & Wellness Centers now renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush).(ii) Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs). (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 in the area where there are no Ayush facilities available. (v) Setting up of upto 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 Programmes. (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. (b)&(c) Yes, the Government is aware that the integration of traditional systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy with modern medicine is gaining global momentum and is being encouraged by the World Health Organization (WHO). India has collaborated with WHO through various agreements, including the establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre at Jamnagar. The Government has also supported the inclusion of AYUSH systems in global classifications like ICD-11 and is promoting digital platforms and research to standardize and integrate these systems effectively. The Ministry of Ayush developed the Central Sector scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for AYUSH (IC Scheme). Under this scheme the Ministry provides support to Indian AYUSH drug Manufacturers/ Ayush Service providers to give boost to the export of AYUSH products and services; facilitates the International promotion, development and recognition of AYUSH systems of medicine; foster interaction of stakeholders and market development of AYUSH at international level; promote academics and research through the establishment of AYUSH Academic Chairs in foreign countries and holding training workshop/symposiums for promoting and strengthening awareness and interest about AYUSH Systems of Medicine at international level including Ayurveda. Under the IC Scheme 25 Country to Country MoUs, 15 Ayush Chair MoUs and 52 Institute to Institute level MoUs have been signed. Further, the Autonomous bodies under the Ministry of Ayush namelyCentral Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS),Central Councilfor Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) Central Council of Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and Central Council of Research in Siddha (CCRS) have been actively contributing to the integration of Ayush systems with the modern system of medicine through a range of research initiatives. The Council conducts research through both Intramural and Collaborative modes, as outlinedin its Research Policy. Collaborative clinical trials are undertaken in partnership with premier institutions across India, including various All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science (NIMHANS), Institute of Liver and Biliary Science(ILBS), Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer(ACTREC)-Mumbai, and several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), fostering interdisciplinary research and integrative healthcare approaches. (d) No, the research councils under Ministry of Ayush are actively engaged in evidence- basedresearch through intra mural and collaborativemodes, in accordance with research policy, to generate scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of Ayush interventions. The outcomes of these research efforts are regularly disseminated through peer reviewedpublications and are intended to strengthen the scientific basis of Ayush for broader acceptance and integration. There is a Research Portal namely Ayush Research Portal a centralized digital platform designed to disseminate curated Ayush-based published research articles. It can be accessed at (https://ayushportal.nic.in/). (e). As reported by the Research Councils under the Ministry of Ayush the details of the funds allocated and utilized in the last five years for research, clinical trials and evidence-based validation of traditional systems of medicine is attached at Annexure I. The initiative to strengthen research institutions under Ministry of Ayush are attached at Annexure II.Annexure I Budget allocation and expenditurein respect of Councils under Ministry of Ayush (Rs. in Crores) Allocated/ Released Utilized CCRAS 1814.71 1767.35 CCRUM 901.94 875.6145 CCRH 720.78 711.8 CCRS 228.09 217.37Annexure II Research Initiatives to strengthen research institutions under Ayush Council CCRAS To enhance institutional quality and credibility, CCRAS has initiated the process of obtaining NABH, NABL, and BIS certifications for its research institutes. These accreditations aim to align the institutes with nationally accepted standards in healthcare services, laboratory practices, and operational protocols. Simultaneously, CCRAS is implementing focused capacity-building initiatives to strengthen the skills and competencies of its scientific and administrative staff. These efforts are directed towards fostering a culture of excellence, regulatory compliance, and research efficiency, thereby enabling the institutes to function as model centres of evidence-based Ayurvedic research and contribute meaningfully to the national health research ecosystem. CCRUM Council’s research centres have been well equipped with state-of-Art facilities, like GC-MS-MS, HPTLC, HPLC, AAS, ICP-OES, Research Microscopes etc. Council’s Regional Research Centre has been upgraded to Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM) at Silchar. Two Clinical Research Units (CRUs) have been established at Goa and Imphal (Manipur). Co-location centre of RRIUM, Mumbai has been established at J J Hospital, Mumbai. Unani pharmacy and Hammam block has been established at RRIUM, Chennai. Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Mumbai has been shifted to a newly constructed common building of CCRUM and CCRH at Khargar, Navi Mumbai. CCRS The initiatives taken to strengthen research institutions by CCRS are as follows: ❖ Upgradation of research institutions functioning under CCRS with adequate infrastructures and facilities. ❖ CCRS has undertaken Mission P2P (Palm to Paper) initiatives which includes the collection, transcription, decoding, translation, digitization and publication of ancient Siddha palm leaf manuscripts, paper manuscripts and rare Siddha books to ensure the preservation and propagation of Siddha classical literature for future generations. ❖ CCRS along with PCIM&H has been preparing legal documents and Standards for the Siddha formulations /raw materials. ❖ CCRS along with BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) has been developing standards related to Siddha system of medicine. ❖ NABL Accreditation for research institutions has been obtained. CCRS has entered MoU with government organizations/ colleges, private institutions, such as National Institute of Nutrition, National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR), All India Institute of Medical sciences (AIIMS), NITM, etc., for carrying out collaborative research studies. The collaborative outcomes will render promulgating rational use, clinical application & mainstreaming of Siddha System of Medicine. Various schemes namely Student Academic Initiative for Research in Siddha (STAIRS), CCRS Post-Doctoral Fellowship Scheme (PDF) and Research Impregnation to the Teaching professionals of Healthcare andMedicine in Siddha (RITHAMS) have been initiated by CCRS to strengthen research among students and researchers. CCRH Infrastructure development o Regional Research Institute (H), Jaipur, Rajasthan upgraded to Central Research Institute for Homoeopathy o Construction of own building for Regional Research Institute (H) (RRIH) at Mumbai. o Construction of Hostel block for PG students at NHRIMH, Kottayam. o Construction of own building and upgradation of Homoeopathic Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh to Central Research Institute for Homoeopathy. o Construction of own building and upgradation of Clinical Research Unit (H), Siliguri to Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy. o Establishment of HIV laboratory at JSPS Government Homoeopathic Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana. o Establishment of Fundamental Research Laboratory being established at Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Kolkata. o These laboratories are responsible for to explore the action of homoeopathic medicines, standardization of raw materials used in Homoeopathy through modern techniques such as HPTLC, spectrometer, spectrophotometer instruments, RTPCR, Elisa reader with BSL-2 lab facilities. Post Graduate Education  Central Research Institute (H) at Kottayam for treating psychiatric diseases has been upgraded to National Homoeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health and also imparting PG education in two subjects with 13 seats practice of medicine and 12 seats Psychiatry Laboratory development  Molecular Lab, Drug Standardization lab, Pathology lab, Virology laboratory, Animal House, at Dr. Anjali Chatterjee Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Kolkata, for undertaking research in Homoeopathy. Drug Standardization lab, In house pharmacy, Zebrafish lab, Animal house, Biochemistry lab at Dr. D.P. Rastogi Central Research Institute (Homoeopathy), Noida.