Executive Summary:
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 289 regarding AYUSH doctors prescribing allopathic medicines, answered on August 8, 2025. It clarifies the government's position, referencing the NCISM Act 2020, NCH Act 2020, and NMC Act 2019, and addresses concerns about rural healthcare and potential bridging courses. The statement confirms that no study has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of AYUSH practitioners dispensing allopathic drugs.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Regulatory Framework:**
* Practitioners registered under the NCISM Act, NCH Act, and NMC Act are entitled to practice within their respective systems of medicine.
* The practice of allopathic medicine falls under the purview of the NMC Act, 2019, requiring enrollment in a State or National Register.
* **Allopathic Prescription by AYUSH Doctors:**
* The government has not conducted any study to assess the effectiveness of AYUSH practitioners dispensing allopathic drugs in rural and tribal regions.
* There is no proposal to formally authorize AYUSH doctors with additional training to prescribe a limited range of essential allopathic medicines due to a shortage of doctors in rural areas.
* **State Authority & Collaboration:**
* Public Health is a state subject, and some state governments have permitted limited prescription of allopathic medicines by AYUSH practitioners based on their needs.
* The NCISM Act, NCH Act, and NMC Act provide for joint sittings among the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, the National Commission for Homoeopathy, and the National Medical Commission to interface regarding education and medical practice.
Impact Analysis:
* **AYUSH Practitioners:**
* Impact: AYUSH practitioners are restricted to practicing within their designated systems of medicine, except where specific state government permissions exist for limited allopathic prescriptions.
* Action Required: Comply with the regulations outlined in the NCISM Act and any state-specific guidelines regarding allopathic prescriptions.
* **National Medical Commission (NMC):**
* Impact: The NMC's authority over allopathic medicine practice is reinforced.
* Action Required: Continue regulating allopathic practice as per the NMC Act, 2019, and participate in joint sittings with NCISM and NCH.
* **State Governments:**
* Impact: State governments retain the authority to permit limited allopathic prescriptions by AYUSH practitioners based on local requirements.
* Action Required: Review and adjust policies as needed, considering the clarification from the Ministry of AYUSH and the provisions of relevant acts.
* **Citizens (Especially in Rural Areas):**
* Impact: Access to allopathic medicines in rural areas may continue to be a concern, as there are no plans to formally authorize AYUSH doctors to prescribe them at a national level.
* Action Required: Advocate for improved healthcare access through state government channels and public health programs.
Key Entities Referenced
AYUSH: Refers to the Ministry of AYUSH, which deals with Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.
Allopathic Medicines: Refers to modern medicine, also known as conventional medicine.
National Medical Commission (NMC): A regulatory body for medical education and medical professionals in India.
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM): A commission regulating the Indian System of Medicine.
National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH): A commission regulating the field of Homoeopathy.
National Medical Commission NMC Act, 2019: A legal act pertaining to the regulation of medical education and profession.
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine NCISM Act, 2020: A legal act pertaining to the regulation of Indian System of Medicine.
National Commission for Homoeopathy NCH Act, 2020: A legal act pertaining to the regulation of Homoeopathy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.289
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025
Permission to AYUSH Doctors for Prescription of Allopathic Medicines
*289. Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth:
Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar:
Will the Minister of AYUSH
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to permit trained and certified AYUSH doctors to
prescribe basic allopathic medicines, particularly in rural areas of the country and if
so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the effectiveness of
AYUSH practitioners serving in rural and tribal regions under public health programs
while dispensing allopathic drugs and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the manner in which the Government justify the National Medical Commission's
(NMC's) proposal to bar AYUSH doctors from prescribing allopathic drugs in the
country;
(d) whether the Government has any plan to formally authorize AYUSH doctors with
additional training to prescribe a limited range of essential allopathic medicines in
view of shortage of doctors in rural areas, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the status of the Government's position on bridging the gap between systems through
certified short-term courses or bridge courses to enable AYUSH doctors to prescribe
certain allopathic drugs?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House
1The Statement referred in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.289 for 08.08.2025
(a) As per the provisions of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine
(NCISM) Act, 2020, the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) Act, 2020 and the
National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, practitioners registered under these Acts
are entitled to practice in their respective systems of medicine. Accordingly, practice of
Allopathic Medicine comes under the domain of the National Medical Commission (NMC)
Act, 2019 where a person who is enrolled in the State Register or the National Register, as
the case may be, shall be allowed to practice medicine as a qualified medical practitioner.
(b) No study has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of AYUSH practitioners serving
in rural and tribal regions under public health programs while dispensing allopathic drugs.
(c) to (e) “Public Health” is a State subject and certain State Governments have permitted
limited prescription of allopathic medicines by AYUSH practitioners as per their
requirement.
There is no proposal to formally authorize AYUSH doctors with additional training to
prescribe a limited range of essential allopathic medicines in view of shortage of doctors in
rural areas . However, in order to have an interface with other systems of medicine with
regard to education and medical practice, there is a provision in the National Commission for
Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020
and the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 for having joint sittings amongst the three
Commissions namely the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, the National
Commission for Homoeopathy and the National Medical Commission.
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