## Summary of AYUSH System of Medicine Promotion Policy
The Ministry of Ayush is actively promoting the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) systems of medicine through various centrally sponsored and central sector schemes.
**National AYUSH Mission (NAM):** The Ministry supports State and UT Governments by providing financial assistance under NAM, based on their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs). Key activities supported include:
* Operationalization of Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) AYUSH by upgrading existing Ayush Dispensaries and Sub Health Centers and co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).
* Upgrading existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals, Government/Panchayat/Government aided Ayush Dispensaries. Construction of new buildings for existing or new Ayush Dispensaries.
* Setting up of 50/30/10 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals.
* Supply of essential drugs to Government Ayush Hospitals/Dispensaries and Government/Government aided Teaching Institutional Ayush Hospitals.
* Ayush Public Health Programmes.
* Establishment of new Ayush colleges and infrastructural development of existing Ayush UnderGraduate and PostGraduate Institutions.
Under NAM, a central share of Rs. 5670.82 Crore has been released to State/UT Governments for approved activities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) AYUSH.
**Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Scheme:** The Ministry also implements a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush to create awareness. Activities include:
* Organizing National/State level Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests/Utsavs, Ayurveda Parvs.
* Celebrating Important Days of Ayush Systems including Ayurveda day.
* Participating in Health Fairs/Melas/Exhibitions.
* Providing financial assistance for organizing seminars, workshops, and conferences.
* Conducting multimedia campaigns.
**Integration with National Health Mission (NHM) and Ayushman Bharat:** AYUSH facilities are being co-located at PHCs, CHCs and DHs to provide patients with choices under a single window. Engagement and training of Ayush doctors/paramedics is supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under NHM, while infrastructure, equipment, furniture, and medicines are supported by the Ministry of Ayush under NAM. Ayush treatments are also being integrated into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
**Promotion of International Cooperation (IC) Scheme:** The Ministry of Ayush also promotes international collaboration through the IC Scheme, which supports:
* Indian AYUSH drug manufacturers and service providers to boost exports.
* International promotion, development, and recognition of AYUSH systems.
* Interaction of stakeholders and market development at the international level.
* Academics and research through AYUSH Academic Chairs in foreign countries.
* Training workshops/symposiums to promote awareness and interest in AYUSH systems.
Under the CSS IC Scheme, 25 Country-to-Country Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), 15 Ayush Chair MoUs, and 52 Institute-to-Institute level MoUs have been signed.
**Quality Control and Regulation:** The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 have specific regulatory provisions for AYUSH drugs. Manufacturers must adhere to licensing requirements, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as per Schedule T/Schedule M-I of the Drugs Rules, 1945, and quality standards prescribed in pharmacopoeias.
* Drug Inspectors regularly collect samples for quality testing.
* The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIMH) lays down formulary specifications and pharmacopoeial standards.
* PCIMH also serves as the Central Drugs Laboratory for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy.
* Capacity Building Trainings are provided for standardization/quality control testing of ASUH drugs.
* Drug Testing Laboratories are recognized under Rule 160 A to J of the Drugs Rules, 1945.
* As of date, 108 private laboratories are approved/licensed and 34 Drug Testing Laboratories of State/UTs are testing the quality of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and raw materials for legal samples.
The Ministry has implemented the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) with a financial allocation of Rs. 122.00 crores for five years to support Ayush Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories.
**Quality Certification:** The Ministry encourages certifications of Ayush products:
* An Ayush vertical has been created in Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to strengthen regulatory measures. CDSCO issues WHO Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (WHO-CoPP) to Ayush drugs.
* Quality Council of India (QCI) implements a Quality Certifications Scheme for AYUSH standard and premium marks.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ayush: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of AYUSH systems of medicine.
National Ayush Mission NAM: A centrally sponsored scheme by the Ministry of Ayush for the overall development and promotion of AYUSH systems in India.
Ayushman Arogya Mandir Ayush: A network of upgraded Ayush dispensaries and Sub Health Centers, functioning as health and wellness centers
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: Indian law regulating the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs and cosmetics.
Drugs Rules, 1945: Rules under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, providing regulatory guidelines for the manufacture and licensing of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy medicines.
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine Homoeopathy PCIMH: A subordinate office under the Ministry of Ayush that lays down the formulary specifications and pharmacopoeial standards for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs.
Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana AOGUSY: A Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Ayush to support Ayush Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization CDSCO: The national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices in India, which has an Ayush vertical to strengthen regulatory measures for Ayush drugs.
AYUSH
Promotion of AYUSH System of Medicine
Posted On: 01 AUG 2025 4:01PM by PIB Delhi
Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM), Ministry of Ayush is supporting the
efforts of State/ UT Governments for overall development & promotion of Ayush systems in the country by
providing financial assistance to them under different activities as per the proposals received through their
State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per provisions of NAM guideline. NAM inter- alia makes provision
for the following activities: -
1. Operationalization of Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) by upgrading existing Ayush Dispensaries
and Sub Health Centers.Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community
Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).Upgradation of existing standalone Government
Ayush Hospitals.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.Setting up of 50/30/10 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals.Supply of
essential drugs to Government Ayush Hospitals, Government Dispensaries and
Government/Government aided Teaching Institutional Ayush Hospitals.Ayush Public Health
Programmes.Establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of Ayush teaching
institutions is inadequate in Government Sector.Infrastructural development of Ayush Under-Graduate
Institutions and Ayush Post-Graduate Institutions/ add on PG/ Pharmacy /Para-Medical Courses.
Under NAM, as per proposal received from State/UT Governments, central share of Rs. 5670.82 Crore has
been released to them for different approved activities including Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush).
Further, the Ministry of Ayush also implements a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information,
Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush to create awareness regarding Ayush Systems of 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 & Exhibitions,
Provide financial assistance for organizing seminars, workshops, conferences and conduct multimedia
campaigns etc.
Government of India has adopted a strategy of Co-location of Ayush facilities 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 supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under National Health
Mission (NHM), while the support for Ayush infrastructure, equipment/ furniture and medicines are being
provided by the Ministry of Ayush under National Ayush Mission (NAM) as shared responsibilities. Further,
under Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs which have been developed by Health
Department by upgrading Health Sub Centres and Ayush doctors have been deployed as Community Health
Officers, provision has been made for providing Ayush treatment to the beneficiaries visiting the facilities.
The Ministry of Ayush, developed the central sector scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for
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 systems 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 Systems ofMedicine at international level including Ayurveda.
Under the CSS IC Scheme 25 Country to Country Memorandum of Understandins (MoUs), 15 Ayush Chair
MoUs and 52 Institute to Institute level MoUs have been signed.
The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 have exclusive regulatory provisions for
Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani, and Homoeopathy drugs. Rule 158-B and Rule 85 (A to I) of the
Drugs Rules, 1945 provides the regulatory guidelines for issue of license to manufacture Ayurvedic, Siddha,
Sowa- Rigpa, Unani (ASSU) and Homoeopathy medicines respectively. 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 the Drugs Rules, 1945 for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani drugs and Homoeopathy drugs
respectively and also to follow the quality standards of drugs as prescribed in the respective pharmacopoeia.
Drug Inspectors collect medicine samples regularly from manufacturing firms or sale shops within
their jurisdiction and send them to Drug Testing Laboratory under Drug Control department for
quality testing and if any sample is found to be ‘Not of Standard Quality’, appropriate action is
initiated such as preventing the sale of the products from the market and appropriate legal actions
as per Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules made thereunder Pharmacopoeia Commission for
Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), subordinate office 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.
PCIM&H also acts as the Central Drugs Laboratory for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy for the purpose of
testing or analysis of ASU&H Drugs. Further, it imparts Capacity Building Trainings at regular interval for
standardization/quality control/ testing or analysis of ASU&H drugs to Drug Regulatory Authorities, State
Drug Testing Laboratories (Drug Analyst) and other stakeholders on quality control of ASU&H drugs on
laboratory techniques and methods used to maintain the quality of ASU&H drugs.
Drug Testing Laboratories are being recognized under Rule 160 A to J of the Drugs Rules, 1945 for carrying
out such tests of identity, purity, quality and strength of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and
Homoeopathy drugs. As on date, 108 private laboratories are approved or licensed under the provisions of
Drugs Rules, 1945 for manufacturers. 34 Drug Testing Laboratories of State/UTs are testing quality of
Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and raw materials for legal samples.
Ministry of Ayush has implemented Central Sector Scheme Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan
Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) to support Ayush Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories to achieve
higher standards under one of the components. The total financial allocation to this scheme is Rs. 122.00
crores for five years.
Further Ministry of Ayush encourages following certifications of Ayush products as per details below:-
An Ayush vertical has been created in Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to
(cid:108)
strengthen regulatory measures ensuring safety and quality of Ayush drugs. Further, CDSCO
issues WHO Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (WHO-CoPP) to Ayush drugs having
compliance to such standards.
Quality Certifications Scheme implemented by the Quality Council of India (QCI) for grant of
(cid:108)
AYUSH standard and premium mark to Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani products on the basis of
third-party evaluation of quality in accordance with the status of compliance to domestic and
international standards.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav in a written
reply in Lok Sabha today.
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MV/GS(Release ID: 2151296)