Parliament Question: National Health Mission in AYUSH

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2212 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025 National Health Mission in AYUSH †2212. Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is actively participating in the National One Health Mission related initiatives and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the specific contributions or programmes launched by the Government under the one said Mission in Maharashtra;

(c) whether the Government has made any collaborate with stakeholders like Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and State Health Departments in implementing the initiatives to be taken under the Mission;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the other steps taken by the Government to address health challenges at the human- animal- ecological interface in the country? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) Yes, the Government of India is actively participating in the National One Health Mission (NOHM). The Mission was established on the recommendation of the 21st Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC), with Cabinet approval in February 2024. The Mission is being steered by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and involves more than 16 Central Ministries/Departments including Ministry of Ayush. The Department of Health Research(DHR)/Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) serves as the implementing agency.

Further details can be accessed on https://www.psa.gov.in/oneHealthMission.

(b) As per inputs from ICMR, several studies have been funded in various institutes and sites across Maharashtra under the National One Health Mission, supporting research, surveillance and capacity-building efforts in the state. Some of the key initiatives include:

1. Creation of institutional structures and governance for One Health implementation: establishment of a dedicated national-level institute (National Institute of One Health, Nagpur) to coordinate surveillance, research, and outbreak response across the country.

2. Establishment of high-containment laboratory network (BSL-3 / BSL-4 labs):

Institutions in Maharashtra form part of the national BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratory network, contributing to high-containment diagnostics and advanced pathogen detection.

3. Bird-human interface surveillance in sanctuaries and wetlands: a major study has been implemented (2025) in selected bird sanctuaries and wetlands across states including Maharashtra to enable early detection of high-risk avian pathogens.

(c) and (d) Yes, the Government has established collaborations with key stakeholders, including the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), State Health Departments, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying and other relevant institutions, to implement initiatives under the National One Health Mission. Further details are available on https://www.psa.gov.in/oneHealthMission.

(e) As per inputs from ICMR, in addition to the activities under the National One Health Mission, the Government has taken several steps to address health challenges at the human– animal–ecological interface in the country, including:

1. Strengthening surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme

(IDSP)/ Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) to monitor emerging zoonotic and vector-borne diseases.

2. Expanding Anti-microbial resistance (AMR) surveillance networks across human, animal, and environmental sectors.

3. Ministry of Ayush promotes rational, non-antibiotic treatment options where appropriate, indirectly supporting AMR reduction-a core One Health priority. Ayushresearch councils have undertaken research studies related to AMR, immunomodulation and vector-borne diseases.

4. Further, the Ayush Vertical, DGHS has released public-health advisories on Monkeypox and Heat Wave in collaboration with the NCDC for dissemination to States and UTs.

5. Conducting surveillance in wildlife corridors, sanctuaries, and ecologically sensitive zones to detect spillover of pathogens.

6. Training human health, veterinary, wildlife, and environmental officers in outbreak investigation, biosafety, diagnostics, and One Health approaches.

7. Accelerating research and development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for high-risk zoonotic diseases. For example, vaccines for Kyasanur Forest Disease

(KFD) and monoclonal antibodies for Nipah virus are currently under development.

8. Expanding BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories for advanced pathogen detection and outbreak response.

9. Implementing platforms like the IHIP, National Digital Livestock Mission, and Bharat Pashudhan app for real-time data collection, monitoring, and decision-making.

10. Enhancing community awareness on zoonotic risks and safe animal-handling practices. ********