Parliament Question: Promotion of AYUSH Systems and Traditional Medicines

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 982 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2026 Promotion of AYUSH Systems and Traditional Medicines †982. Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor: Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state: (a) the details of the specific steps taken by the Government to promote AYUSH systems, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, at the grassroot level in the Dahod Parliamentary Constituency, stream-wise; (b) the efforts made to promote traditional AYUSH medicines and products from the tribal and rural areas of the Dahod Parliamentary Constituency; (c) the progress made so far in the implementation of the AYUSH Grid and 'My AYUSH Integrated Services Portal' in the Dahod Parliamentary Constituency, along with the extent of its adoption by health institutions in the Constituency; and (d) the measures taken by the Government to integrate AYUSH systems through co-location at Health and Wellness Centres in the Dahod Parliamentary Constituency and the impact this integration has had on preventive healthcare? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) & (b) Public Health being a State Subject, primary responsibility regarding promotion of Ayush systems at the grassroot level & promoting Ayush medicines and products from the tribal and rural areas including Dahod Parliamentary Constituency, lies with respective State Government. However, Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments and supporting their efforts for overall development and promotion of Ayush systems including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, in the country. Under NAM, grant-in-aid is being provided to the State /UT Governments against their proposals received through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per the provisions of NAM guidelines. The NAM inter-alia makes provision for following activities: (i) Operationalization of Ayush Health & Wellness Centres (AHWCs), now renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush). 1(ii) Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs) (iii) Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals (iv) Upgradation of existing Government/Panchayat/Government aided Ayush Dispensaries/ Construction of building for existing Ayush Dispensary (Rented/dilapidated accommodation) /Construction of building to establish new Ayush Dispensary (v) Setting up of 10/30/50 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals (vi) Supply of essential drugs to Government Ayush Hospitals, Government Dispensaries and Government/Government aided Teaching Institutional Ayush Hospitals (vii) Ayush Public Health Programs (viii) Ayush Gram (ix) Behavior Change Communication (BCC) (x) Establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of AYUSH teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector. (xi) Infrastructural development of Ayush Under-Graduate Institutions and Ayush Post- Graduate Institutions/add on PG/ Pharmacy/Para-Medical Courses. Further, Ministry of Ayush is also implementing the Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush to create awareness among the public about the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and preventive healthcare benefits of the Ayush systems, namely Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. The Scheme is intended to benefit all sections of the population across the country. Under the Scheme, the Ministry organises national and state-level Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests/Utsavs, Ayurveda Parvs, and celebrations of important days associated with the various Ayush systems. It also participates in health fairs, melas, and exhibitions; provides financial assistance for organising seminars, workshops, and conferences; and conducts multimedia awareness campaigns to promote the Ayush systems of healthcare among citizens. As reported by the State Government of Gujarat, under the National Ayush Mission, robust financial and infrastructural support is extended to upgrade existing Ayush facilities across the Dahod Parliamentary Constituency. In Dahod district, out of the 19 AYUSH dispensaries, 12 have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AYUSH). Further, 7 Standalone AYUSH dispensaries, 2 Standalone Ayurvedic Hospitals having dedicated yoga wellness centres and 5 Co-located Ayush OPDs (3 at CHCs, 1 at PHC, and 1 at District Hospital level) are also functional in Dahod district. Regular and streamlined supply chains for essential Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic medicines have been institutionalized to cater directly to grass-roots Ayush dispensaries. For promotion of Ayush streams, activities like IEC (pamphlets, posters, and calendars highlighting Ayush benefits), integration of herbal gardens, Ayush mobile medical unit, school health programs undertaken. Regular Yoga sessions for healthy lifestyle promotion, Health education and IEC activities on nutrition, hygiene, non-communicable disease prevention and seasonal health are also done. Further, 2Lifestyle counselling for diabetes, hypertension, obesity, stress management and Ayush- based preventive care for maternal and child health, adolescent health, geriatric care are also provided. Community outreach through health camps and observance of national health campaigns are also undertaken. Also, Gujarat Government implemented 'AYUSH Gram' activity to integrate traditional medicine into the daily lives of rural communities. These initiatives focus on making Ayush the primary, accessible healthcare system at the village level by training local attendants (like farmers), promoting local medicinal plants. (c) Under Ayush Grid initiative, twenty-four e-governance platforms have been developed and made accessible to all. The My Ayush Integrated Services Portal (MAISP), the master portal of the Ministry of Ayush, integrates all Ayush-related applications and services into a unified digital ecosystem. (Details available at: maisp.ayush.gov.in). As on 23rd July 2026, 3 Ayush facilities have been on-boarded from Dahod parliamentary constituency and total of 5558 Ayush health facilities across the country have been onboarded onto AHMIS. Further, the PM GatiShakti portal has enabled GIS mapping of Ayush health facilities using PM Gatishakti Ayush Asset Mapping Tool to support planning and decision-making. As on 23rd July 2026, a total of 34 Ayush facilities have been mapped from Dahod parliamentary constituency on the portal. (d) To integrate Ayush Systems with main-stream, Government of India has adopted a strategy of co-location of Ayush services with Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs) across the country, 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, as reported by the State Government of Gujarat, to maximize grassroots reach and single-window patient care, 5 Co-located Ayush OPDs are located at 1 PHC, 3 CHCs and 1 DH level in the Dahod Parliamentary Constituency. At these co-located facilities, Ayush Medical officers provide preventive, promotive and primary healthcare services, including Yoga & lifestyle counselling, health education, and Ayush treatment alongside routine healthcare services. The initiative has improved access to Ayush services, increased awareness of preventive healthcare, promoted healthy lifestyles, enabled early management of lifestyle diseases and strengthened preventive healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and tribal areas. ***** 3