Parliament Question: Siddha Centres in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5689 ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026 Siddha Centres in Maharashtra †5689. Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant: Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state: (a) the number of Siddha Centres operational in the country, State/UT-wise especially in the Maharashtra; (b) whether the Government has launched any awareness programmes and educational campaigns to promote Siddha system of medicine; (c) if so, the financial assistance provided for the promotion and development of the Siddha system of medicine during the last five years; (d) whether the Government has formulated any policy or action plan to integrate Siddha system of medicine with mainstream medical services; (e) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the hospitals and wellness centres providing Siddha based treatment under Ayushman Bharat-Health and Welfare Centres (ABHWC); and (f) whether the Government has taken any steps to promote education and training programmes in the Siddha system of medicine in the country, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) Total number of Siddha Dispensaries in the country including Maharashtra as on 01.04.2024 is furnished at Annexure I. (b) & (c) Ministry of Ayush is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments for overall development and promotion of Ayush systems including Siddha across the country by providing financial assistance to them under different activities as per the provision of NAM guidelines against their submitted State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs). The Mission inter-alia makes provision for the following 1activities: - (i) Operationalization of Ayush Health and Wellness Centres now renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) by upgrading existing Ayush dispensaries and Sub health Centres. (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 in the area where there are no Ayush facilities available. (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 Programmes. (viii) Establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of Ayush teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector. (ix) Infrastructural development of Ayush Under-Graduate Institutions and Ayush Post- Graduate Institutions/ add on PG/ Pharmacy /Para-Medical Courses Accordingly, as per the proposals received through SAAPs, 528 Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) (Ayush) Units in Tamil Nadu, 05 Units in Kerala and 01 Unit in Puducherry were operationalised and providing holistic health care to community through Siddha health care services. Under NAM, an amount of Rs. 19409.62 lakhs, Rs. 1752.37 lakhs and Rs. 26918.16 lakhs have been released during last five years to Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala respectively for overall development & promotion of Ayush including Siddha system as per the proposals received in their SAAPs. Ministry of Ayush is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush to create awareness regarding Ayush Systems of Medicine including Siddha Medicine. This scheme aims to reach out to all sections of the population across the country and under this Scheme, Ministry organizes National/State level Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests/Utsavs, Ayurveda Parvs, Celebrate Important Days of Ayush Systems including Ayurveda day, participate in Health Fairs/ Melas & 2Exhibitions, provide financial assistance for organizing seminars, workshops, conferences and conduct multimedia campaigns etc. Further, National Institute of Siddha located in Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai which is an autonomous body under Ministry of Ayush has been taking various steps for promoting Siddha System of medicine across the country by participating in Arogya fair etc., This Institute has created awareness about Siddha System of medicine to the people outside Tamil Nadu. The Institute also conducts many programmes like Siddha Day celebration, Continuing Medical Education (CMEs), Workshops, Seminars, Conferences to create more awareness about Siddha System of medicine. (d) & (e) Government of India has adopted a strategy of Co-location of Ayush facilities including Siddha Systems at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), 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 including Siddha systems is being provided by the Ministry of Ayush under NAM, as shared responsibilities. Furthermore, under NAM, there is a provision for financial assistance to State/UT Government for setting up of 10/30/50 bedded Integrated Ayush Hospitals including Siddha system and accordingly State/UT Government may avail financial assistance by submitting suitable proposals through SAAPs. (f) Under NAM, the State/UT Governments are supported for infrastructure development of Ayush Educational Institutions including Siddha Systems as per the proposals received through SAAPs. Further, National Institute of Siddha is promoting Siddha System of medicine by conducting UG, PG and Ph.D courses in Siddha and also by providing treatment in the Siddha System of medicine to the patients reporting to the attached hospital. In collaboration with the Central Health Education Bureau (CHEB), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India), Master Trainer programmes were organized in 2024 and 2025 on ‘Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) for managing musculoskeletal disorders’ and ‘Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) for managing metabolic disorders’. These trainings were conducted for medical officers of all Ayush Systems including Siddha medicine from all States & UTs. 3Further, ‘Capacity Building & Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Ayush’ is one of the components of Central Sector Scheme namely Ayurgyan which is implemented by Ministry of Ayush since 2021-22 with an objective to encourage Ayush personnel including Siddha doctors to undergo need-based professional training and bridge the knowledge gaps. Under the Capacity Building and CME in Ayush Component, 12 training programmes related to Siddha System of Medicine have been supported to various organizations/institutions. ***** 4Annexure State/UT wise total number of Siddha Dispensaries in the country as on 01.04.2024* Sl. State / UT Total No. of Siddha Dispensaries No. 1 Karnataka 1 2 Kerala 34 3 Maharashtra 0 4 Tamil Nadu 1065 5 Puducherry 28 A. TOTAL 1128 B. CGHS & Central Government 67 Organizations TOTAL (A+B) 1195 *Source : As reported by State Governments/ UTs & Concerned Agencies. 5