Lok Sabha Question No. 938 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Preventive Medicine to Covid-19
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 938 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## PREVENTIVE MEDICINE TO COVID - 19

## 938. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

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

- (a) whether the Government has initiated any study to assess the impact of the preventive medicines  given by  various  medicinal  streams  under  AY USH  against  the COVID - 19 pandemic?
- (b) if not, whether the Government is considering to formulate any such study; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any steps  for  the  promotion  of  AYUSH medicines against COVID - 19 disease?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)& (b): Yes, Ministry has launched Clinical research studies on AYUSH intervention prophylactic interventions for Covid - 19 in high risk population, through Research Councils an Nationa l Institutes under Ministry of AYUSH.  Ayush Sanjivani mobile app developed by Ministry  has  also  been  launched  to  generate  data  on  acceptance  and  usage  of  AY advocacies  and  measures  among  the  population  and  its  impact  in  prevention  of  COVID - 19 targe ting 05 million population.
- (c) (i) Ministry has issued an advisory on 29.01.2020 on how to protect oneself from and how to stay healthy. Ministry has also written a letter dated 06.03.2020 to Secretaries of States / Union territories with more specific suggestions on augmentation General  Immunity  of  people  and  about  possible  AYUSH  intervention.  Ministry  has issued  self - care  guidelines  on  31.03.2020  for  preventive  health  measures  and  boos immunity with special re fe nce to respiratory health.
- (ii) Ministry had sent a d.o. letter dated 16.03.2020 to Ministry of Health & Family offering  for  integrating  and  utilizing  huge  AYUSH  infrastructure  to  combat  wi COVID19 pandemic and also to Principals of al l Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) colleges (approximately 727 colleges) on 23.03.2020 for offeri their services to local health authorities for utilization of the available facili per the situation arises.

(iii) Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with M/o Health & Family has organized Tra of Trainers for COVID - 19 Preparedness, Response and Containment.

(iv)  Ministry  of  AYUSH  issued  Gazette  notification  dated  21.04.2020  for  undert research  on  COVI D - 19  through  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  and  Homeopathy  including prophylactic measures, intervention during the quarantine, asymptomatic and sympto cases of COVID - 19. Public Health Research, Survey, Lab Based Research etc to gener evidence.

(v) Ministry of AYUSH has formed an Inter - disciplinary AYUSH R&D Task Force. The Task Force has formulated and designed clinical research protocols for prophylacti and  add - on  interventions  in  COVID - 19  positive  cases  through  thorough  review  and consultative pr ocess of experts of high repute from different organizations across the for studying four different interventions viz. Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Guduchi + P and  a  poly  herbal  formulation  (AYUSH - 64).  Ayush  Sanjivani  mobile  app  developed  by Min istry of AYUSH has also been launched to generate data on acceptance and usag AYUSH  advocacies  and  measures  among  the  population  and  its  impact  in  prevention COVID - 19 targeting 05 million population.

(vi)  A joint proposal with Brazil and South Afr ica has been submitted by the Ministry under BRICS STI Framework Programme, Response to COVID - 19 pandemic coordinated call for BRICS multilateral projects 2020 for undertaking collaborative research studies i clinical trials on Ayurvedic Medicine f or mitigating COVID - 19.