**Executive Summary**
The document is a response from the Minister of State of the Ministry of Ayush to questions regarding the effectiveness of Ayush Grid platforms, telemedicine, and quality control measures for AYUSH medicines. It outlines the government's initiatives to improve efficiency, transparency, and quality in the AYUSH sector. The question was slated to be answered on February 6, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **AYUSH Grid Platforms (A-HMIS and e-Aushadhi):**
* A-HMIS has improved patient care, operational efficiency, and decision-making through standardized diagnostics, treatment workflows, and service delivery.
* e-Aushadhi facilitates paperless processing and tracking of license applications for manufacturing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani, and Homoeopathy medicines.
* **AYUSH Telemedicine (eSanjeevani) and e-Sanjeevani:**
* Provides free teleconsultation services accessible across all states and Union Territories of India, expanding healthcare access in remote areas and improving efficiency.
* **Quality Control and Standardization of AYUSH Drugs:**
* The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 have exclusive regulatory provisions for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs.
* Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) lays down standards for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs, which serve as official compendia.
* PCIM&H acts as the Appellate Drugs Testing Laboratory for ASU&H Drugs and conducts capacity-building trainings.
* Rule 160 A to J of the Drugs Rules, 1945 provides regulatory guidelines for approval of Drug Testing Laboratory. 34 State Drug Testing Laboratories have been supported, and 108 laboratories are approved for quality testing.
* The Ministry of Ayush has established an Ayush vertical in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
* **PM Gati Shakti AYUSH Asset Mapping Tool:**
* A dedicated app maps Ayush health facilities, educational institutes, and research centers to aid in planning the establishment of new facilities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Ayush Facilities**
* **Impact:** A-HMIS enables enhanced patient care and improved operational efficiency through standardized diagnostics, treatment workflows, and data-driven decision-making.
* **Action Required:** Adoption of A-HMIS to enhance service delivery and accountability.
**Stakeholder: Manufacturers of Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani, and Homoeopathy Medicines**
* **Impact:** e-Aushadhi streamlines the licensing process, promoting transparency and efficiency. Compliance with quality standards set by PCIM&H is mandatory.
* **Action Required:** Utilize e-Aushadhi for license applications/renewals and adhere to GMP and quality standards outlined in the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and Rules.
**Stakeholder: Patients in Remote and Underserved Areas**
* **Impact:** Increased access to healthcare through telemedicine services.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the eSanjeevani platform for free teleconsultation services.
**Stakeholder: Drug Regulatory Authorities and Drug Analysts**
* **Impact:** Capacity-building trainings by PCIM&H and stricter quality control measures.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs conducted by PCIM&H and implement the guidelines for drug testing and standardization.
**Stakeholder: Planners of new Ayush Facilities**
* **Impact:** Improved planning with accurate mapping of existing Ayush facilities.
* **Action Required:** Use the "PM GatiShakti Ayush Asset Mapping Tool" to map the Ayush facility/college.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ayush: The central ministry responsible for developing and promoting AYUSH systems of medicine.
Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940: Legislation governing the regulation of drugs and cosmetics in India, including provisions for AYUSH medicines.
Drugs Rules, 1945: Rules framed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, specifying the regulatory requirements for manufacturing, testing, and licensing of drugs, including AYUSH medicines.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO): The national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices in India, with an Ayush vertical for ensuring the safety and quality of Ayush medicines.
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H): A subordinate organization under the Ministry of Ayush that lays down the formulary specifications and pharmacopoeial standards for AYUSH drugs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1212
TO BE ANSWERED ON 6th FEBRUARY 2026
“Quality of AYUSH Medicine”
1212. Shri Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathva:
Shri Rajpalsinh Mahendrasinh Jadav:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) the manner in which the AYUSH Grid platforms, A-HMIS and e-Aushadhi have
improved efficiency and transparency since their applications;
(b) the outcomes achieved through AYUSH Telemedicine and e-Sanjeevani
integration in expanding healthcare access in remote and deprived areas;
(c) the manner in which the Government is ensuring quality control and
standardisation of AYUSH medicines through labs and testing protocols; and
(d) the manner in which the PM Gati Shakti AYUSH Asset Mapping Tool is being
used to optimise the planning and placement of hospitals, colleges and research
centres?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) The Ayush Grid project, launched by the Ministry of Ayush, serves as a
comprehensive digital backbone for the Ayush sector, with the objective of
strengthening service delivery across healthcare, research and development, education
and awareness, drug administration, capacity building and medicinal plants. Under this
initiative, multiple digital platforms including Ayush Hospital Management
Information System (A-HMIS) and e-Aushadhi have been developed. The A-HMIS
has been adopted by Ayush facilities to enhance patient care, improve operational
efficiency and support data-driven decision-making. It standardises diagnostics,
treatment workflows and service delivery, thereby improving institutional
accountability and transparency.
e-Aushadhi is an IT enabled online portal to grant license to and/or renew the license
of the manufacturers to manufacture Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and
Homoeopathy medicines by their respective State (Ayush) Licensing Authorities, as
per the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945. The
portal helps in facilitating paperless processing and tracking of the applications.(b) eSanjeevani and Ayush telemedicine platforms have been designed to be inclusive and
accessible platforms, providing free teleconsultation services to all. Ayush services
delivered through these platforms have expanded healthcare access in remote and
under-served areas by operationalising Ayush OPDs. The services are operational
across all states and Union Territories of India. These measures have improved access
to consultations through last-mile service delivery, supported continuity of care
through digital workflows, reduced patient burden & costs, and enabled more efficient
utilisation of Ayush specialists across multiple locations.
(c) The steps being taken by the Ministry to ensure Quality Control and standardisation of
AYUSH drugs through laboratories and testing protocols are as follows:
• The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 have exclusive
regulatory provisions for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and
Homoeopathy drugs. Provisions relating to Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and
Unani Drugs are contained in Chapter IVA and Schedule- I of the Drugs and
Cosmetics Act, 1940 and in Rules 151 to 169, Schedules E(I), T & TA of the
Drugs Rules, 1945. Further, second schedule (4A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,
1940 provides standards for Homoeopathic drugs and Rules 2dd, 30AA, 67 (C-H),
85 (A to I), 106-A, Schedule K, Schedule M-I of the Drugs Rules, 1945 pertain to
Homoeopathic drugs. It is mandatory for the manufacturers to adhere to the
prescribed requirements for licensing of manufacturing units & medicines
including proof of safety & effectiveness, compliance with the Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as per Schedule T & Schedule M-I of Drugs
Rules, 1945 and quality standards of drugs given in the respective pharmacopoeia.
• Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H),
sub-ordinate organization under Ministry of Ayush, lays down the formulary
specifications and pharmacopoeial standards for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and
Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs which serves as official compendia for ascertaining
the quality (identity, purity and strength) of the ASU&H drugs. As per the Drugs &
Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules there under, the compliance to this quality standards
are mandatory for manufacturing of ASU&H drugs.
• PCIM&H also acts as the Appellate Drugs Testing Laboratory for testing or
analysis of ASU&H Drugs. In addition, it conducts capacity-building trainings at
regular intervals for the standardization, quality control, and testing or analysis of
ASU&H drugs for Drug Regulatory Authorities, Drug Analysts, and other relevant
stakeholders, with a focus on laboratory techniques and methodologies essential
for ensuring the quality of ASU&H drugs.
• Rule 160 A to J of the Drugs Rules, 1945 provides the regulatory guidelines for
approval of Drug Testing Laboratory for carrying out such tests of identity, purity,
quality and strength of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs as may be required
under the provisions of these rules, on behalf of licensee for manufacture of
Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs. As on date, 34 State Drug Testing
Laboratories have been supported for strengthening their infrastructural and
functional capacity. Further, 108 laboratories are approved or licensed under the
provisions of Drugs Rules, 1945 for quality testing of Ayurvedic, Siddha and
Unani drugs and raw materials.• Ministry of Ayush has established an Ayush vertical in the Central Drugs Standard
Control Organisation (CDSCO), which includes posts of 1 Deputy Drugs
Controller, 4 Assistant Drugs Controllers, and 4 Drugs Inspectors. Drugs
Inspectors posted in Ayush vertical, inspect various manufacturing units in
coordination with the licensing authorities/drugs inspectors of respective
States/Union Territories for ensuring safety and quality of Ayush medicines.
(d) A dedicated app for mapping of Ayush assets have been developed with the name
“PM GatiShakti Ayush Asset Mapping Tool”. The app is being used to map the
Ayush health facility, educational institutes, research centres etc. using exact
latitude and longitude of the asset helping further planning of establishing new
Ayush facility/college etc.
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