Parliament Question: Integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1934 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2026 Integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine 1934 Dr. Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade: 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 and if so, the details thereof; and (b) whether it is also a fact that Government is taking rational approach for each system of medicine contributed according to its strengths? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) & (b) 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 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 1developing 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. ***** 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 a WHO Collaborating Centre for Medicine (Yoga) Institute of Yoga Traditional for 4th consecutive terms from 2013. MDNIY is running (MDNIY) 4 Yoga Centres at Govt. Modern Medicine Hospital in Delhi and Preventive Health Care Unit of Yoga in 20 CGHS Wellness Centres in Delhi NCR. 5