Lok Sabha Question No. 968 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Research work on AYUSH Drugs and Treatment
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 968 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## RESEARCH WORK ON AYU SH DRUGS AND TREATMENT

## 968. SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

## Will  the  Minister  of AYURVEDA,YOGA  AND NATUROPATHY,  UNANI,  SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Government has issued any advisory which virtually bars the Non - AYUSH Researchers/ Scientists from publishing their work on AYUSH dr ugsand treatment;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether this advisory has been issued under the presumption that such a step may hurt the 'Made in India' to promote scientific research in Ayurveda, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the Government  has  taken  note  that such  a  step  would  deter  the  Inter - Disciplinary researchers from carrying out evidence - based research which could be beneficial for AYUSH; and
- (e) whether it is a fact that through this step, Government is virtually trying to curb academic freedom of the researchers/scientists therein and if so the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)  &  (b):    Yes,  Government  has  issued  an  advisory  on  02.04.2019  for  non - AYUSH  researchers/ scientists, institutions and editors of medical/scientific journals to involve ap Expert/Institution/Research Council of AYUSH in conducting any scientific study/clini trial/research intervention to explore AYUSH drug or treatment and for vetti ng of the publication of the outcomes and findings of such studies to prevent incorrect, arbitrary and ambiguous stat and conclusions about AYUSH. The advisory is not intended for barring research studies and publications  by  non - AYUSH  researchers/scientists  but  for  promoting  the  involvement  of  AYUSH research experts/institutions in such studies and publications.
- (c) to (e): AYUSH  systems  are  officially  recognised integral  part  of  the  country's  healthcare delivery  network  and  are  promoted  and  mainstreamed  through  various  policies,  strategies schemes of Government of India including the National Health Policy - 2017, National Health Mission and National AYUSH Miss ion. Principles, concepts and approaches of AYUSH systems and their drug - based interventions are not comparable to the prevalent modern medical system. For scien development  of  AYUSH  systems,  Central  Government  has  inter  alia  established  five  Researc Councils (viz. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences; Central Council for Resear Unani  Medicine;  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Sidhha;  Central  Council  for  Research Homoeopathy; and Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy) , published Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines for conduct of clinical trials in Ayurvedic, Sidhha and Unani medici implemented Extramural Research Scheme to support projects of scientific exploration of AYUS Details of these initiatives are available in the Ministry's website ww.ayush.gov.inand accordingly it  was  not  intended  or  presumed  to  hurt  the  'Make  in  India'  initiative  or  deter  inter - disciplinary research  in  AYUSH  or  curb  academic  freedom  of  th e  researchers/scientists.  The  objective  of  the advisory was not to jeopardize the potential and scope of AYUSH in public healthcare and n distract or dissuade the people from resorting to AYUSH from arbitrary statements and unfou conclusions from the scientific studies and research publications related to AYUSH.