Lok Sabha Question No. 1048 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Antidotes to COVID-19
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1048 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## ANTIDOTES TO COVID - 19

## 1048. SHRI B.B.PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government is formulating steps to find antidotes to COVID - 19 in AYUSH, if so, the details thereof alongwith funds allocated in this regard;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  issued  an  advisory advocating  the  use  of  Unani  and Homoeopathy medicines for prevention and management of the disease and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the basis of this advisory; and
- (d) whether the Government has set up permanent AYUSH research labs to develop solutions to any future pandemic or epidemic and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a): No ,  however,  Ministry  has  formed  an  Inter - discipl inary  AYUSH  R&D  Task  Force. The  Task  Force  has  formulated  and  designed  clinical  research  protocols  for  prophyl studies and add - on interventions in COVID - 19 positive cases through review and consultative process of experts of high repute from differen t organizations across the country for studying three  different  interventions  viz.  Yashtimadhu,  Guduchi  +  Pippali  and  a  poly  h formulation (AYUSH - 64) as Adjunct Treatment to Standard of Care for the management of Mild to Moderate COVID - 19 Patient
- (b): Yes, Ministry had issued an advisory on 29.01.2020 on how to protect oneself f COVID and how to stay healthy.  Ministry also written a letter dated 06.03.2020 to al Secretaries  of  States/Union  territories  with  more  specific  suggestions  on  au gmentation  of General  Immunity  of  people  and  about  possible  AYUSH  intervention.  Guidelines  fo Registered  Practitioners  of  respective  system  of  AYUSH  have  been  prepared  by  Direc Generals of Research Councils and Directors of National Institutes with the ir team of experts and same is vetted by the Interdisciplinary AYUSH Research and Development Task Force Ministry  of  AYUSH  and  after  obtaining  approval  of  Cabinet  Secretariat,  these  ve guidelines  are made available in public domain for the benefit of more than 700000 registered AYUSH practitioners to help in the management of COVID 19 pandemic uniformly.

(c): Based  on  potential  &  strength  of  AYUSH  systems  supported  by  evidences  for promotion of immunity and help in improving the respiratory symptom s in similar diseases and as per the recommendations from the research councils under Ministry of AYUSH syst wise  advisories  has  been  formulated.  Further,  Guidelines  for  Registered  Practition respective system of AYUSH have been prepared by Directo r Generals of Research Councils and  Directors  of  National  Institutes  with  their  team  of  experts  and  same  is  vetted Interdisciplinary AYUSH Research and Development Task Force of Ministry of AYUSH.

(d): No.