**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Minister of Ayush to a question in the Lok Sabha (Unstarred Question No. 1197) regarding the integration of traditional and modern medicine, answered on February 6, 2026. It outlines the Government of India's strategy and initiatives towards co-locating Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) facilities within existing healthcare infrastructure and promoting the integration of traditional medicine with modern medical practices. The document also details ongoing research and educational efforts to facilitate this integration.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Co-location of Ayush Facilities:**
* The government is co-locating Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and District Hospitals (DHs).
* This provides patients with a choice of different systems of medicine at a single location.
* The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) supports the engagement and training of Ayush doctors and paramedics under the National Health Mission (NHM).
* The Ministry of Ayush supports infrastructure, equipment, furniture, and medicines under the National Ayush Mission (NAM).
* **Rational Approach & Initiatives for Integration:**
* The Ministry of Ayush is adopting a rational approach to promote each Ayush system of medicine according to its respective strengths to facilitate integration with modern medicine.
* An Ayush Vertical has been established under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to plan, monitor, and supervise Ayush-specific public health programs.
* Integrated Ayush Departments have been jointly established by the Ministry of Ayush and MoH&FW in Central Government Hospitals.
* The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has developed Ayush Module for MBBS.
* Research Councils and National Institutes are undertaking initiatives for integration of Ayush with contemporary medical system.
* **Research Council Initiatives:**
* CCRAS has undertaken operational studies to explore the feasibility of integrating Ayurveda with modern medicine.
* CCRUM has established re-location centers at various hospitals and collaborative projects with modern academic/research Institutions to integrate and promote Unani Medicine.
* CCRH is working towards integration of Homoeopathy with mainstream healthcare.
* CCRS has taken initiatives for integrating Siddha practices with the modern healthcare system.
* CCRYN is a part of the ICMR Task Force on Multi-centric Study project on Heart Failure across the country.
* AIIA provides integrative medical services under various centers.
* ITRA conducts integrative research with the modern medical system.
* NIS promotes integrated research in the Siddha system of medicine.
* MDNIY is running Yoga Centres at Govt. Therapy Modern Medicine Hospital in Delhi and preventive Health Care units of Yoga.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Patients:**
* **Impact:** Greater choice and access to different systems of medicine (Ayush and modern medicine) at a single location, potentially leading to more holistic and integrated healthcare.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the availability of Ayush facilities at PHCs, CHCs, and DHs, and make informed choices about their healthcare options.
* **Ayush Doctors/Paramedics:**
* **Impact:** Opportunities for engagement, training, and integration with the mainstream healthcare system.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under the National Health Mission (NHM).
* **Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW):**
* **Impact:** Shared responsibilities in supporting Ayush doctors/paramedics and their training under the National Health Mission (NHM).
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with the Ministry of Ayush in supporting the integration of Ayush facilities within existing healthcare infrastructure.
* **Ministry of Ayush:**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to promote and expand Ayush systems of medicine.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support infrastructure, equipment, furniture, and medicines under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), and collaborate with MoH&FW on integration efforts.
* **Research Councils and National Institutes (CCRAS, CCRUM, CCRH, CCRS, CCRYN, AIIA, ITRA, NIS, MDNIY):**
* **Impact:** Continued involvement in research and development to validate and integrate Ayush practices with modern medicine.
* **Action Required:** Continue undertaking research initiatives for integration of Ayush with contemporary medical system.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: Primary ministry responsible for promoting and developing AYUSH systems of medicine.
National Ayush Mission (NAM): Scheme under which the Ministry of AYUSH provides support for infrastructure, equipment, furniture and medicines for AYUSH systems.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare: Ministry that collaborates with AYUSH for integrating traditional and modern medicine in public health initiatives, especially for AYUSH doctors/paramedics.
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM): Organization that has developed the Ayush Module - Internship Electives for MBBS for Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha system of medicine.
All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi: Institute that provides integrative medical services, including integrative cancer therapy and other AYUSH therapies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1197
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026
Integration of Traditional and Modern Medicine
1197. Shri V K Sreekandan:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that traditional medicine is likely to be integrated with modern
medicine into phases;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that the Government is taking rational approach for each system of
medicine contributing according to its strengths;
(d) whether it is also a fact that the Government has any plan for complete merger of modern
and traditional medicines; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c) 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 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 shared
responsibilities. Further, Ministry of Ayush is adopting a rational approach along with
multiple initiatives, for the promotion and institutional expansion of each Ayush system of
medicine according to its respective strengths, with a view to facilitating their integration
with modern medicine. Some of the major initiatives are as follows:
i. The Ayush Vertical under Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), established by
1the 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. 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.
iv. 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.
(d) No.
(e) Question does not arise.
*****
2Annexure
Details of initiatives taken by the Ministry of Ayush through its Research councils and National
Institutes
Sl. Research councils / Details of initiatives Institute
No National Institutes
1. Central Council for CCRAS has undertaken research studies such as Operational study to
Research in Ayurvedic explore the feasibility of integrating Ayurveda with modern system
Sciences (CCRAS) 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 CCRUM has established four re-location centers at Dr. RML
Research in Unani Hospital, Dr. DDU Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi and J.J.
Medicine (CCRUM) Hospital at Mumbai. Collaborative projects with modern academic/
research Institutions have also been under taken by the Council to
integrate and promote Unani Medicine.
3. Central Council for CCRH is working towards integration of Homoeopathy with
Research in mainstream healthcare by undertaking research in collaboration and
Homoeopathy (CCRH) 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, U.P,
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
3Public 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 CCRS has taken initiatives for integrating Siddha practices with the
Research in Siddha modern healthcare system by encouraging scientific research and
(CCRS) 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 CCRYN is a part of the ICMR Task Force on Multi-centric Study
Research in Yoga & project on Heart Failure across the country.
Naturopathy (CCRYN)
6. All India Institute of AIIA, New Delhi, integrative medical services are available under
Ayurveda (AllA) 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 ITRA conducts integrative research with the modern medical system.
Teaching & Research in
Ayurveda (ITRA)
48. National Institute of To promote integrated research in the Siddha system of medicine and
Siddha (NIS) provide Siddha treatment to the patients visiting Chettinad Hospital
and Research Institute (CHRI), 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) 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 MDNIY is running 4 Yoga Centres at Govt. Therapy Modern
Institute of Yoga Medicine Hospital in Delhi and preventive Health Care units of Yoga
(MDNIY) in 20 CGHS Dispensaries in Delhi NCR. Further, MDNIY is a WHO
Collaborating Centre for Medicine (Yoga) Traditional for 4th
consecutive terms from 2013.
5