Lok Sabha Question No. 911 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Indian Medicinal System
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 911 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH February, 2021

## INDIAN MEDICINAL SYS TEM

## 911. SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

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

- (a) the details of measures taken by the Government to promote Indian Medicinal System in tackling the COVID - 19 pandemic;
- (b) whether the Government has assessed the impact of Indian Medicinal System in tackling Coronavirus; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a): The  details of measures taken by the Government to promote Indian M edicinal System in tackling the COVID - 19 pandemic are as follows:
- i. Ministry  of  AYUSH  issued  an  advisory  on  29.01.2020  on  how  to  protect  oneself COVID and how to stay healthy. Ministry has written  letter to all Chief Secretaries of States  /  Union  territories  with  more  specific  suggestions  on  augmentation  of Immunity of people and about possible AYUSH intervention. Ministry has also issue -care guidelines on 31.03.2020 for preventive health me asures and boosting immunity with special reference to respiratory health.
- ii. Guidelines  for  Registered  Practitioners  of  respective  system  of  AYUSH  (inc Ayurveda  and  Homoeopathy)  have  been  prepared  by  Research  Councils  and  Nationa Institutes with their team of experts and same is vetted by the Interdisciplinary AY Research and Development Task Force of Ministry of AYUSH. These vetted guidelines made available in public domain for the benefit of more than 700000 registered practitioners to h elp in the management of COVID 19 pandemic uniformly.
- iii.The  Interdisciplinary  AYUSH  Research  and  Development  Task  Force  constituted Ministry  of  AYUSH has  formulated  and  designed clinical  research  protocols prophylactic studies and add - on interventions in COVID - 19 positive cases through thorough review  and  consultative  process  of  experts  of  high  repute  from  different  orga across the country for studying four different interventions viz. Ashwa Yashtimadhu, Guduchi + Pippali and a poly her bal formulation (AYUSH - 64).The task force has taken up the proposals received from screening committees of Councils and pro explored possibilities based on available leads. The studies are at various stages
- iv. The Ministry of AYUSH has released 'Nati onal Clinical Management Protocol based on Ayurveda and Yoga for management of COVID -19' prepared by National Task force which in consensus from expert committees from All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Institute  of  Post  Graduate  Training  and  R esearch  in  Ayurved  (IPGTRA),  Jamnagar,  and National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur , Central Council for Research in (CCRAS),  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Yoga  and  Naturopathy  (CCRYN)  and  othe national research organizations as per the Re port & Recommendations of the Interdisciplinary Committee  wherein guidelines for post - covid  care has been mentioned. This protocol is based on:
1. Knowledge from   Ayurveda   literature and clinical experience
2. Empirical evidences and Biological plausibili ty
3. Emerging trends of ongoing clinical studies

Salient features of this protocol includes management of prophylactic, Asymptomatic, Moderate cases of COVID - 19 along with of post -management.

- v. Further, considering the importance of immunity boostin g measures in the wake of COVID -19 outbreak, Ministry of AYUSH has promoted use of ready - made Ayush formulation i.e. 'Ayush Kwath'(Ayurveda) or 'Ayush Kudineer'(Siddha) or 'Ayush Joshanda'(Unani) in the interest of health promotion to the masses.
- vi. Ministry of  AYUSH  has  issued  an  order  on  28.07.2020  regarding  directions  to  stat licensing  Authorities  to  forward  license  application  of  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Un Homoeopathic medicines underwent clinical trial/ research studies for COVID - 19.
- vii. Ministry  of  AYUS H  advised  to  States/UTs  to  assign  the  AYUSH  facilities  under  t administrative control for supporting the treatment of the Covid 19 patients.

(b) & (c): Ministry of AYUSH has developed AYUSH Sanjivani mobile app and has documented the impact assessment of effectiveness, acceptance and usage of AYUSH advisories & me in the prevention of COVID - 19 through Mobile app based population study in around 1.5 cro respondents.  85.1%  of  the  respondents  re ported  use  of  AYUSH  measures  for  prevention  of COVID - 19,  among  which  89.8%  respondents  agreed  to  have  benefitted  from  the  practi AYUSH  advisory.  79.1%  of  the  users  responded  that  the  AYUSH  measures  gave  an  over feeling  of  good  health.  63.4%  reporte d  improvement  in  parameters  of  wellbeing  like  sleep appetite, bowel habits, stamina and mental wellbeing.