This document summarizes Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 932, addressed to the Minister of Ayush on July 25, 2025, regarding the shortage of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) doctors in India. The response, provided by the Minister of State IC of the Ministry of Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, clarifies the roles of the Central and State/UT governments in addressing the issue.
The response indicates that increasing the number of AYUSH doctors falls primarily under the purview of respective State/UT Governments, as Public Health is a State subject. As of January 1, 2023, the total number of AYUSH Registered Practitioners/Doctors in the country, as reported by State/UT Boards/Councils, is 751,768. A detailed state-wise breakdown is provided, ranging from 0 in several UTs to 178,162 in Maharashtra.
Regarding measures to improve training, recruitment, and retention of AYUSH doctors, the response reiterates that the primary responsibility lies with State/UT Governments. However, the Ministry of Ayush supports professional development through the "Ayurgyan" Central Sector Scheme, which provides funds for capacity building and Continuing Medical Education (CME) in AYUSH.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: The Indian government ministry responsible for developing and promoting AYUSH systems of medicine.
Shri Tharaniventhan M S: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about the shortage of AYUSH doctors.
Arani Lok Sabha Constituency, Tamil Nadu: A parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu, specifically mentioned in the context of underserved areas with respect to AYUSH doctors.
SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: The Minister of State IC of the Ministry of AYUSH, who provided the answer to the question.
Ayurgyan: A Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of AYUSH that provides funds for capacity building and Continuing Medical Education (CME) in AYUSH.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India with a reported number of 6173 AYUSH Registered Practitioners.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India with a reported number of 19332 AYUSH Registered Practitioners.
Maharashtra: A state in India with a reported number of 178162 AYUSH Registered Practitioners.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 932
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
“Shortage of AYUSH Doctors”
932. Shri Tharaniventhan M S:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) whether there is shortage of AYUSH doctors in the country and if so, the details thereof
along with the current estimated shortfall in the number of doctors;
(b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to address this shortage and
increase the number of AYUSH practitioners in the country;
(c) the number of AYUSH doctors currently practicing in rural and underserved areas including
Arani Lok Sabha Constituency in Tamil Nadu;
(d) whether the Government plans to introduce any measures to improve training, recruitment,
and retention of AYUSH doctors in the future; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c): The primary responsibility to increase the number of Ayush doctors in the country
comes under the purview of respective State/UT Governments as Public Health is a State
subject. However, the total number of Ayush Registered Practitioners (Doctors) in the
country, State/UT-wise as on 01.01.2023, as reported by State/UT Boards/Councils is
furnished at Annexure.
(d) & (e): As Public Health is a State subject, the primary responsibility to introduce
measures to improve training, recruitment, and retention of Ayush doctors comes under the
purview of respective State/UT Governments. Ministry of Ayush supports the objective of
upgrading professional competence through a Central Sector Scheme namely Ayurgyan
wherein funds are provided for capacity building and Continuing Medical Education (CME)
in Ayush.
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1Annexure
State/ UT-wise total number of Ayush Registered Practitioners (Doctors) as on
01.01.2023
S.No. States/UTs Total
(1) (2) (3)
1 Andhra Pradesh 6173
2 Arunachal Pradesh 551
3 Assam 3377
4 Bihar 74223
5 Chhattisgarh 7496
6 Delhi 11863
7 Goa 1634
8 Gujarat 60998
9 Haryana 12595
10 Himachal Pradesh 7676
11 Jammu & Kashmir 5447
12 Jharkhand 1180
13 Karnataka 33374
14 Kerala 49014
15 Madhya Pradesh 45481
16 Maharashtra 178162
17 Manipur 0
18 Meghalaya 552
19 Mizoram 273
20 Nagaland 183
21 Odisha 15577
22 Punjab 16835
23 Rajasthan 22723
24 Sikkim 0
25 Tamil Nadu 19332
26 Telangana 23863
27 Tripura 796
28 Uttar Pradesh 96619
29 Uttarakhand 4526
30 West Bengal 51048
31 A&N Islands 0
32 Chandigarh 197
33 D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu 0
34 Ladakh 0
35 Lakshadweep 0
36 Puducherry 0
TOTAL 751768
Source: State/UT- Boards/Councils
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