**Executive Summary:**
This document is a response from the Ministry of Ayush to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the promotion of AYUSH, including Unani medicine, the alleged use of heavy metals in AYUSH products, and the status of Unani hospitals and medical centers. It details the steps taken to promote AYUSH, addresses quality control measures, and provides data on existing Unani facilities. The information is current as of July 25, 2025, and includes data current to April 1st, 2023.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Promotion of AYUSH:**
* The Ministry implements the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) in AYUSH to raise awareness.
* The Ministry supports the organization of National/State Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests/Utsavs, and Ayurveda Parvs.
* Multi-media and print media campaigns are used to promote AYUSH systems.
* The Ministry operates the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for Promotion of International Cooperation (IC) for AYUSH, facilitating the export of AYUSH products and services and international promotion.
* 25 Country-to-Country MoUs, 15 AYUSH Chair MoUs, and 52 Institute-to-Institute MoUs have been signed under the CSS IC Scheme.
* The Ministry has established 5 Research Councils and 12 National Institutes to promote AYUSH, including Unani medicine.
* The Ministry implements the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through States/UTs, providing Grant-in-Aid for development and promotion.
* **Quality Control and Heavy Metals:**
* The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIMH) sets standards for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathic (ASUH) drugs.
* These standards include permissible limits for heavy metals, as per WHO guidelines.
* Compliance with these quality standards is mandatory for ASUH drug production, sale, and stocking in India.
* **Unani Hospitals and Medical Centers:**
* 267 Unani hospitals and 1874 Unani dispensaries are functioning in the country.
* **Establishment of New Facilities:**
* The establishment of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, including Unani, falls under the purview of State/UT governments.
* Financial assistance is available to States/UTs under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) for establishing new integrated AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **AYUSH Drug Manufacturers and Service Providers:**
* *Impact:* Can receive support to boost the export of AYUSH products and services via the CSS IC Scheme.
* *Action Required:* Engage with the Ministry of Ayush to explore opportunities for international promotion and market development.
* **State/UT Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for establishing and maintaining AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, including Unani facilities, within their jurisdiction. Can receive financial assistance via NAM.
* *Action Required:* Submit proposals through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) to avail financial assistance for establishing new AYUSH facilities, where applicable.
* **Consumers of AYUSH Products:**
* *Impact:* Assured of quality control measures, including permissible limits for heavy metals, in ASUH drugs.
* *Action Required:* Be aware of the quality standards and ensure that purchased products comply with these standards.
* **AYUSH Educational Institutions:**
* *Impact:* Can benefit from the promotion of academics and research through the establishment of AYUSH Academic Chairs in foreign countries.
* *Action Required:* Foster interaction with stakeholders and market development of AYUSH at an international level.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ayush: The Indian government ministry responsible for developing and promoting traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).
Unani: A traditional system of medicine originating in ancient Greece and practiced in India, focusing on holistic healing.
Central Sector Scheme CSS for Promotion of Information Education and Communication IEC in Ayush: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Ayush to create awareness regarding AYUSH systems of medicine.
Central Sector Scheme CSS for Promotion of International Cooperation for Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha Homeopathy Ayush IC Scheme: A scheme by the Ministry of Ayush to promote international collaboration and recognition of AYUSH systems.
National Ayush Mission NAM: A centrally sponsored scheme for the development and promotion of AYUSH systems of medicine in India through State/UT governments.
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine Homoeopathy PCIMH: A subordinate office of the Ministry of Ayush responsible for laying down the Formulary Specifications and Pharmacopoeial Standards for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathic drugs.
Drugs Cosmetics Act, 1940: An act in India regulating the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs and cosmetics.
Delhi: A state and union territory of India. Mentioned in context of establishment of Ayush hospitals and dispensaries.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 959
ANSWERED ON 25TH JULY, 2025
“Promotion of AYUSH”
†959. Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) whether adequate steps have been taken by the Government to promote and popularize
AYUSH including Unani system of medicine and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware of the alleged use of heavy metals in Ayurveda and
other AYUSH products/medicines;
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
(d) the details of Unani hospitals and medical centres currently functioning in the country,
State/UT-wise; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to open more such hospitals/centres in the country
particularly in Delhi and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) The Ministry implements the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for Promotion of
Information Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush to create awareness regarding
Ayush system of medicine including Unani system of medicine. This aims to reach out to all
sections of the population across the country. This scheme provides assistance for organizing
National/State Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests/Utsavs, Ayurveda Parvs, etc. The Ministry also
undertakes Multi-Media, Print Media Campaigns for creating awareness about Ayush system
of medicine.
The Ministry of Ayush also evolved the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for Promotion of
International Cooperation for Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy
(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 system
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 system of medicine at
international level including Ayurveda.Under the CSS IC Scheme, 25 Country to Country MoUs, 15 Ayush Chair MoUs and 52
Institute to Institute level MoUs have been signed.
Further, in order to promote Ayush including Unani system of medicine, Ministry of Ayush
has established 05 Research Councils and 12 National Institutes, as per details at Annexure-I.
These institutions alongwith its peripheral institutes/units/centres are providing treatment
through General Outpatient Department (OPD), Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) OPD,
Geriatric OPD, Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Clinic etc. and also engaged in awareness
activities to promote Ayush including Unani system of medicine through Arogyas, Health
Melas, Health Camps, Exhibitions and School Health Programme etc. in different parts of the
Country. Apart from these, they also publish journals/bulletins which are available
electronically in the public domain for dissemination of the information among the public
pertaining to Ayush system of medicine and imparting education in Ayush system of medicine
at Under-Graduate (UG), Post-Graduate (PG) and Ph. D level.
Ministry of Ayush is also implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush
Mission (NAM) through States/UTs for development and promotion of Ayush including Unani
system of medicine in the country and Grant-in Aid is provided to State/UT Governments as
per the proposals submitted through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs).
(b) & (c) Ministry of Ayush has established Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian
Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), as its subordinate office. PCIM&H lays down the
Formulary Specifications and Pharmacopoeial Standards for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani &
Homoeopathic (ASU&H) drugs, which serve as official compendia for ascertaining the
Quality Control (identity, purity and strength) of the ASU&H drugs, included therein, as per
Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945, thereunder. The quality standards of ASU&H
drugs also prescribing the permissible limits of Heavy Metals as per World Health
Organization (WHO) guideline. Compliance to these quality standards is mandatory for the
production of ASU&H drug being manufactured, sell and stocked in India. Implementation of
these Pharmacopoeial standards ensures that the medicines conform to optimum quality
standards in terms of identity, purity, strength.
(d) 267 Unani hospitals and 1874 Unani dispensaries are functioning in the Country. The
details are at Annexure-II.
(e) Public Health being a State subject, establishment of Ayush hospitals and
dispensaries including Unani in the country including Delhi comes under the purview of
respective State/UT Governments. However, under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National
Ayush Mission (NAM), there are provisions of financial assistance to States/UTs for
establishment of new integrated Ayush hospitals and new Ayush dispensaries in the area where
there are no Ayush facilities available. State/UT Governments may avail eligible financial
assistance by submitting suitable proposals through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per
the provisions of NAM guidelines.
*****Annexure-I
Details of Research Councils and National Institutes
Functioning under the Ministry of Ayush
Research Councils:
Sl. No. Name of Research Council
1 Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)
2 Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN)
3 Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)
4 Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS)
5 Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH)
National Institutes:
Sl. No. Name of Institute
1 National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA)
• Jaipur
• Panchkula (Satellite Centre)
2 All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)
• New Delhi
• Goa (Satellite Centre)
3 Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV), Delhi
4 Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar
5 Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi
6 National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune
7 National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM)
• Bengaluru
• Ghaziabad (Satellite Centre)
8 National Institute of Siddha (NIS), Chennai
9 National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH)
• Kolkata
• Narela (Satellite Centre)
10 National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), Leh
11 North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH), Shillong
12 North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR),
PasighatAnnexure-II
State wise number of Unani Hospita ls and Dispensaries as on 01.04.2023
S.No. State / UT Unani
No. of No. of
Hospitals Dispensaries
(A) States/Union Territories
1 Andhra Pradesh 2 92
2 Arunachal Pradesh 0 1
3 Assam 0 0
4 Bihar 1 333
5 Chhattisgarh 1 26
6 Delhi 2 25
7 Goa 0 0
8 Gujarat 0 0
9 Haryana 1 23
10 Himachal Pradesh 0 3
11 Jammu & Kashmir 6 267
12 Jharkhand 0 147
13 Karnataka 25 89
14 Kerala 0 16
15 Madhya Pradesh 4 64
16 Maharashtra 7 24
17 Manipur 5 0
18 Meghalaya 0 0
19 Mizoram 0 0
20 Nagaland 0 0
21 Odisha 0 9
22 Punjab 1 34
23 Rajasthan 11 341
24 Sikkim 0 0
25 Tamil Nadu 1 65
26 Tripura 0 0
27 Uttar Pradesh 183 73
28 Uttarakhand 3 2
29 West Bengal 1 6
30 A&N Island 0 0
31 Chandigarh 0 2
32 D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu 0 0
33 Ladakh 0 8
34 Lakshadweep 0 0
35 Puducherry 0 0
36 Telangana 3 184
TOTAL(A) 257 1834
(B) CGHS & Central Government Organizations 10 40
TOTAL(A+B) 267 1874