Lok Sabha Question No. 2802 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-17
Subject: Research in Ayurveda and other AYUSH System of Medicine
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2802 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2023

## RESEARCH IN AYURVEDA AND OTHER AYUSH SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

## †2802. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a)  the  funds  allocated  and  released  for  research  in  Ayurveda  and  other  AYUSH  system  of medicines during the last five years including the amount released for Himalayan States, Statewise;

(b)  whether the Government has made any special efforts to integrate both the Allopathic and AYUSH medicine systems; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) The  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  established  five  autonomous  Research  Councils  for dedicated  research  in  AYUSH  Systems  i.e.  Ayurveda,  Homoeopathy,  Unani,  Siddha  and Yoga  &  Naturopathy.  The  research  activities  by  the  Councils  are  undertaken  through peripheral institutes/ centres/ units all over India and also through collaborative studies with various universities, hospitals and institutes. The following Research Councils are established under the Ministry of Ayush.

- i. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)
- ii. Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH)
- iii. Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)
- iv. Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS)
- v. Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN)

The details of the funds allocated and released for research in Ayurveda and other AYUSH system  of  medicines  during  the  last  five  years  is  attached  as  Annexure-I.  However,  no separate  funds  for  individual  states  are  allocated  by  Ministry  of  Ayush  for  research  in Ayurveda and other AYUSH system of medicines.

(b) &  (c)  The  Government  of  India  is  working  towards  integration  of  Allopathic  and Ayush systems of medicine. Ministry of Health and Family welfare is working on integration of Ayush in new and upcoming AIIMS, Ministry of Ayush is also workingon offering patient

centric  integrative  health  care,  mainly  concentrating  on  Ayurveda  through  its  All  India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA).

Setting  up  of  22  new  AIIMS  across  the  country  has  been  sanctioned  under  Pradhan MantriSwasthya  Suraksha  Yojana  (PMSSY).  Provision  has  been  made  for  a  30  bedded AYUSH block in each of the new AIIMS being set up in the country under PMSSY and its infrastructure development is integral part of construction of new AIIMS except for AYUSH facility at AIIMS Rae Bareli for which the Standing Finance Committee in its meeting held on 11.01.2023 has directed to submit its plan for approval of competent authority. Funds are sanctioned and released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for setting up of AIIMS including an AYUSH block.

Similarly, All India Institute of Ayurveda, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India has adopted integrative approach in the management of diseases which is strictly limited on case to case basis. It also has a Division of Integrative Medicine which has the following components:

-  Division of integrative orthopaedics
-  Division of integrative dentistry
-  Division of integrative dietetics
-  Division of Emergency Medicine.

In  addition  to  these,  all  the  clinical  departments  have  colocation  of  Allopathic  doctors  (on adhoc  basis/contractual/on  call/empanelled)  who  offer  patient  centric  services  whenever required. Within AIIA Hospital, integrative services are offered at the ICU, NICU , and other clinical services. In the diagnostic part, all diagnostic facilities as per modern science are made available at  AIIA which includes Pathology, Bio-Chemistry, Microbiology, Radiology  &  Imaging  etc. AIIA  has  also  established  and  providing  services  &  support  at Integrative Medicine department at Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi.

Recently  NITI  Aayog,  the  Ministry  of  Ayush,  and  ICMR  jointly  took  initiatives  for  the collaboration  for  integrative  research  to  work  on  health  problems  of  National  importance, development  of  Joint  DHR-Ayush  Guideline  for  integrative  research,  and  for  research capacity  building  for  Ayush  and  ICMR.    A  joint  working  group  of  Ayush-ICMR  has  also been created, which is headed by DG-CCRAS representing the Ministry of Ayush and Dr. N.S. Chatterjee, Scientist 'G'& Head BMS Division representing the ICMR.

Further, The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has also taken up projects  and  studies  for  integration  of  Ayurveda  with  Modern  system  of  Medicine.  The details are appended at Annexure -II .

*******

Annexure-I Details of the grants allocated tofive Research Councils of Ministry of Ayush during the

## last five years (Amount in Crores)

| Sl. No   | Schemes/ Programmes                                         | 2017-18   | 2017-18   | 2017-18   | 2018-19   | 2018-19   | 2018-19   | 2019-20   | 2019-20   | 2019-20   |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Sl. No   | Schemes/ Programmes                                         | BE        | RE        | AE        | BE        | RE        | AE        | BE        | RE        | AE        |
| 1        | Grant to Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences | 175.00    | 216.07    | 216.02    | 252.91    | 286.41    | 267.03    | 292.31    | 288.50    | 280.68    |
| 2        | Grant to Central Council for Research Unani Medicine        | 123.00    | 133.93    | 133.93    | 130.00    | 147.00    | 145.50    | 152.65    | 159.54    | 159.54    |
| 3        | in Grant to Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy     | 95.50     | 112.25    | 112.25    | 109.50    | 113.50    | 109.14    | 118.53    | 128.83    | 128.83    |
| 4        | Grant to Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy | 32.00     | 32.00     | 32.00     | 29.00     | 30.56     | 30.56     | 41.35     | 62.45     | 61.71     |
| 5        | Grant for Central Councils for Research in Siddha           | 25.00     | 26.94     | 26.94     | 28.50     | 31.50     | 30.04     | 36.50     | 33.00     | 33.00     |
|          | Total :                                                     | 450.50    | 521.19    | 521.14    | 549.91    | 608.97    | 582.27    | 641.34    | 672.32    | 663.76    |

| Sl. No   | Schemes/ Programmes                                         | 2020-21   | 2020-21   | 2020-21   | 2021-22   | 2021-22   | 2021-22   |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Sl. No   | Schemes/ Programmes                                         | BE        | RE        | AE        | BE        | RE        | AE        |
| 1        | Grant to Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences | 297.00    | 273.00    | 264.16    | 328.27    | 309.37    | 312.72    |
| 2        | Grant to Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine     | 157.00    | 164.05    | 164.05    | 167.79    | 157.73    | 157.73    |
| 3        | Grant to Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy        | 138.50    | 130.50    | 130.50    | 167.58    | 143.58    | 135.33    |
| 4        | Grant to Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy | 40.50     | 48.30     | 48.30     | 59.70     | 57.44     | 57.44     |
| 5        | Grant for Central Councils for Research in Siddha           | 35.00     | 35.30     | 35.30     | 36.77     | 39.06     | 39.06     |
|          | Total :                                                     | 668.00    | 651.15    | 642.31    | 760.11    | 707.18    | 702.28    |

BE = Budget Estimate RE = Revised Estimate AE = Actual Expenditure

Annexure -II

.

## Details of CCRAS initiative towards Integrative health

## 1. Operational study to explore the feasibility of integrating Ayurveda with modern system of medicine in a tertiary care hospital (Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi) for the management of Osteoarthritis (Knee)

The  CCRAS-WHO  India  country  office  conducted  an  operational  study  to  explore  the feasibility of integrating Ayurveda with modern system of medicine in a tertiary care hospital (Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi) for the management of Osteoarthritis (Knee) in 2007. The Ayurvedic  treatment  provided  to  201  patients  was  found  effective  in  the  management  of Osteoarthritis Knee with respect to reducing the symptoms, improving the quality of life and reducing the intake of rescue medication (analgesics). The project established a cross referral system and revealed a shift in service seeking behavior of the patients. A Technical report of the study was published by CCRAS in 2007.

## 2. Feasibility of introducing Indian System of Medicine (Ayurveda) in the National Reproductive  and  Child  Health  services  at  Primary  Health  Care  (PHC)  level'  in Himachal Pradesh

Several policy documents such as National Health Policies, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM),  Government  of  India  recommend  for  mainstreaming  of  traditional  systems  in health  care  delivery  systems  at  all  levels  in  the  country.  The  National  Population  Policy Document 2000 recommended mainstreaming of Indian Systems of Medicine particularly in National Family welfare programme to improve the health indicators of women and children. Special emphasis has been laid down  in Ayurveda for Women  during pregnancy 'Garbhiniparicharya'  (Antenatal  care)  and  various  Ayurvedic  interventions/regimens  are mentioned in Ayurvedic literature.

Considering  the  importance  of  Maternal  Health,  the  Central  Council  for  Research  in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India developed Four (04) coded formulations i.e. AYUSH AG Tablet, AYUSH GG Tablet, AYUSH PG Tablet & AYUSH AD candy  for  Antenatal  Care  systematically  through  standardization  studies  for quality  assurance  and  pre-clinically  safety  studies.  The  ingredients  of  formulations  were selected  rationally  with  potential  leads  from  the  classical  Ayurvedic  literatures  backed  by scientific evidence.

Table  1:   Ayurveda  interventions  for  Ante  -natal  care  developed  by  the  Council  and  their indications

## S. No.  Name of the intervention Indication

1. Ayush AG Tablet General Health of woman and fetal growth
2. Ayush GG Tablet

Edema during pregnancy

3. Ayush PG Tablet Pregnancy induced Hypertension (PIH)
4. Ayush ADE candy Nausea and vomiting

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) carried out the study in a pilot  mode  for  introducing  Ayurveda  health  care  system  in  the  conventional  system  for Antenatal, postnatal and neonatal care with technical support from Indian Council of Medical Research  (ICMR),  Government  of  India.  It  was  implemented  in  some  selected  areas  viz. Ladbhadhol&Chauntra blocks of Mandi District; and Mahakal&Panchrukhi blocks of Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh.

Total  2465  participants  were  enrolled  in  the  study.  Significant  improvement  in  various outcome indicators such as improvement in Hb%, minimal complications such as vomiting, Edema  etc.  during  pregnancy,  achievement  of  full  term  pregnancy  and  nil  still  birth  and neonatal death were observed in the study. Whereas in Himachal Pradesh, Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) was 31 per 1000 live births and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) were 40 according to  Sample  Registry  survey  (SRS-2010).  Further,  there  was  no  mortality  of  women  in  the registered cases. No adverse drug reaction (ADR) or adverse event (AE) was reported during the study period. The responsiveness of study participants and the outcome of core indicators reveal the acceptability of study participants for Ayurveda during pregnancy.

To summarize, the core benefits are:

- Improvement of General health conditions and anemic status (Hb gm %) in pregnant woman
- Reduction in pregnancy related complications such as Vomiting, Edema etc.
- Full term normal delivery
- Prevention of infant mortality
- Ayurvedic  interventions  well  tolerated  &  no  adverse  event  reported  ensuring  their safety
- Improved  communication  between  Ayurveda  and  modern  practitioners  at  Primary Health Care Level
- Functional integration through cross referrals

The  technology  of  2  Ayurvedic  interventions  viz.  AYUSH  AG  Tablet  and  AYUSH  PG Tablet has been transferred.

Note: A paper has been published 'Effectiveness of Ayurvedic interventions for Ante-natal Care (GarbhiniParicharya) at Primary Health Care level - A multi-center operational Study' in Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha published by Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi.

## 3. Integration  of  AYUSH  systems  in  National  Programme  for  Prevention  and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS)-

Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health &  Family  Welfare has implemented and executed a programme viz. Integration of AYUSH (Ayurveda) component with  NPCDCS  (  National  Programme  for  Prevention  and  Control  of  Cancer,  Diabetes, Cardiovascular  diseases  &  Stroke  )  programme  in  the  identified  districts  of  3  states  viz. Bhilwara (Rajasthan), Surendranagar (Gujarat) and Gaya (Bihar) in 52 centers (49 CHCs and 3  District  Hospitals)to  cater  health  care  services  and  reduce  the  burden  of  NCDs  (Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases & Stroke) by integrating Ayurveda and Yoga.

Under this  program  111182  patients  were  enrolled  out  of  1394417  screened.  145416Yoga camps were also organized wherein 1727758 individuals participated. Three Research papers have been published in peer reviewed journals

## 4. Feasibility  of  introducing  Ayurveda  Intervention  in  Reproductive  and  Child Health (RCH) in PHCs of Selected district (Gadchiroli) of Maharashtra (Effectiveness of Ayurvedic intervention for Ante-Natal care (GarbhiniParicharya) at Primary Health Care level: A Multi Centre Operational Study).

The project has been implemented in 30 selected PHCs of Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra and executed through CCRAS Institute-Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Mother and Child Health (RARIMCH) Nagpur, Maharashtra, mandated with R&D on Mother and Child Health Care which is in close proximity to Gadchiroli. The study has been completed and the final report is under preparation.