Lok Sabha Question No. 622 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Standardization of AYUSH Education
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Goddeti Madhavi, Chandra Sekhar Bellana, Chinta Anuradha, Geetha Viswanath Vanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.622 ANSWERED ON 04/02/2022

## 'STANDARDIZATION OF AYUSH EDUCATION'

## 622. SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI : SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA: SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA: SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  steps  towards  standardization  of  academic courses and improving the quality of AYUSH education in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  towards  standardization  of  quality  of  AYUSH healthcare services, quality control of AYUSH drugs and strengthening of drug testing laboratories?

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

- (a) Yes, the Government has undertaken steps towards standardization of academic courses and improving the quality of AYUSH education in the country.
- (b) National commission for Indian system of medicine (NCISM) and National commission for Homeopathy  (NCH)  have  been  constituted  to  improve  the  quality  of  education,  through regulatory provision & streamlining of registration, ethical practice throughout the country. NCISM  &  NCH  are  coming  up  with  new  modules  of  Education  systems  in  AYUSH  to standardize the academic courses and to develop competency based dynamic curriculum.

Details of Measures taken by Ministry of Ayush to bring transparency & improve quality of AYUSH Education in the country is attached as Annexure-I

- (c) Ministry of Ayush is working towards quality control and standardization of Ayush drugs and strengthening of drug testing laboratories. Ministry of Ayush along with Quality Control

of  India  (QCI)  provides  voluntary  certificate  scheme  for  Ayush  products  in  two  levels namely Ayush Standard Mark and Ayush Premium Mark.

Regarding Quality Control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU&H ) drugs Government  has  been  enforced  chapter  IV-A  of  the  Drugs  and  Cosmetics  Act  1940  and Rules 1945. It is mandatory for the manufacturer of ASU&H drugs to obtain licence from the concerned State Licensing Authority (SLA) and comply with the prescribed  Good Manufacturing  Practices  (GMP)  and  quality  standards  of  drugs  given  in  the  respective Pharmacopoeias. The SLA grants the licence after verification of the required infrastructural facilities, equipment / machinery, manpower of the manufacturing unit through inspection(s) conducted by the inspector.

Ministry of Ayush has setup Pharmacopoeia commission for Indian Medicine & Homeopathy  (PCIM&H),  at  Ghaziabad,  U.P.  to  lay  down  Pharmacopoeial  Standards  and Formulary  specifications for ASU&H  drugs,  which  serve  as  official  compendia  for ascertaining  the  identity,  purity  and  strength  of  the  drugs  included  therein.  Pharmacopoeia commission  for  Indian  Medicine  &  Homeopathy  also  serves  as  Central  drug  testing  cum appellate laboratory for testing of ASU&H drugs; for ensuring compliance to the prescribed quality standards. The standards of ASU&H medicines are published by the PCIM&H in the country  which  becomes  part  of  Drugs  and  Cosmetics  Act,  1940  and  Rules  1945  for ascertaining the quality standards of raw materials/drugs and implemented uniformly across India.  Standards  are  not  developed  by  the  State/UT  thus  the  State/UT  wise  details  are  not available. However, the details of Ayurvedic standards published by Government of India is as under:-

- a) Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I-Ill) containing 986 Formulations,
- b) Siddha Formulary of India (Part I-Il) containing 400 Formulations and
- c) National Formulary of Unani Medicine 1230 Formulations.

List of Pharmacopoeial and Formulary publications is attached as Annexure-II

*****

## Measures  taken  by  Ministry  of  AYUSH  to  bring  Transparency  &  improve  Quality  in AYUSH Education in the country:

In  order  to  bring  transparency  and  also  to  provide  equal  opportunities  to  candidates  from  all States for admission in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU & H) Under-graduate and  Post-graduate  courses,  the  Central  Government  have  published  and  notified  amendment regulations in Under-Graduate and Post Graduate ASU & H regulations which are effective from the academic session 2019-20. Further, the following measures have been taken for implementation of provisions of amendment regulations and to bring Transparency & improve quality in AYUSH institutions:

- (i) A  uniform  entrance  examination  namely  the  National  Eligibility  Entrance  Test (NEET) for admission to all Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU & H) Under-graduate courses
- (ii) A  uniform  entrance  examination  namely,  the  All  India  AYUSH  Post  Graduate Entrance Test  (AIAPGET) for admission to  postgraduate course in  all  Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU & H) Institutions.
- (iii) All  India  Quota  Seats  has  been  created:  Minimum  15%  of  the  total  seats  (which may be more as per existing rules of the concerned State/University/Institutes) of all Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  and  Homoeopathy  (ASU  &  H)  UG  &  PG  courses  in Government,  Government  aided,  Private  Colleges,  Deemed  Universities,  Central Universities and National Institutes from academic year 2019-20.
- (iv) A committee namely AYUSH  Admissions Central Counseling Committee (AACCC) has also been constituted for conduction of All India Quota Seats.
- (v) For  academic  year  2019-20,  2020-21  and  2021-22  NEET  and  AIAPGET  were conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).

## New Legislations enacted by Ministry of Ayush for AYUSH education

The  National  Commission  for  Indian  System  of  Medicine  (NCISM)  Act,  2020  and  National Commission for Homeopath (NCH) Act 2020 were enacted on 21 st September, 2020, to replace the existing Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 and Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 respectively.

Accordingly, the Central Council of Indian medicine constituted under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 (48 of 1970), a statutory body which lays down the standards of medical education in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa-Rigpa through its  various  regulations,  has  been  superseded  by  National  Commission  for  Indian  System  of Medicine (NCISM) vide Ministry's Notification dated 11 th June, 2021.

The  Central  Council  of  Homoeopathy  constituted  under  sub-section  (1)  of  section  3  of  the Homoeopathy  Central  Council  Act,  1973  (59  of  1973)  has  been  superseded  by  National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) vide Ministry's Notification dated 5th July, 2021.

All  the  provisions  of  the  NCISM  Act,  2020  and  NCH  Act  2020,  have  come  into  force  vide Notification dated 11/06/2021 and 05/07/2021 respectively.

The Objectives and Mandate of NCISM and NCH are in line with the vision encompassed in NEP 2020 in the field of AYUSH education: -

- Ensure availability of High quality medical professionals of Indian system of Medicines & Homeopathy
- Induction of latest and cutting edge medical research by these professionals to foster and promote growth of these systems of medicines.
- Promotes  equitable and universal health care that encourages community  health perspective.
- Periodic assessment of the quality of medical institutions.
- Effective redressal of grievances arising out of practice of Indian System of Medicine & Homeopathy systems of medicines.
- Framing policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals of Indian System of Medicine & Homeopathy system
- Assessing the requirement of Healthcare related Human resources and Infrastructure.
- Ensure setting up of and compliance by, the State Medical Councils of Indian Systems of Medicines/Homeopathy, of the regulations made under the NCISM/NCH respectively.
- Ensuring  coordination amongst  the  various autonomous  boards  set  up  under  the NCISM/NCH
- New draft has been framed for Minimum Standards of Education 2021 based on National Education Policy (NEP) for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Colleges.
- It is decided to introduce competency based curriculum and syllabus in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani education from 2021-22 academic session onwards.
- Since  NCISM  is  focusing  on  skill  development,  teaching  hours  to  be  devoted  for practicals/clinical training has been doubled over classroom teaching hours.
- To  acquaint  knowledge  in  multidisciplinary  aspects,  online  Elective  courses  are  to  be implemented from 2021-22.
- An orientation program for all PG guides will be conducted by the NCISM to improve the quality of PG dissertation work and subsequent publications in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani colleges.
- Medical Education unit will be establish in all college to train the teachers in teaching and  training  technology  as  part  of  faculty  development  program  as  specified  in  the NCISM Act, 2020.
- Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani teaching institutes will be rated hereafter by NCISM based on specific criteria on infrastructure, facility, functionality and innovative initiatives.
- A  survey  proceeding  has  been  initiated  by  NCISM  to  evaluate  professional  career  of ASU female graduates (passed out from 1996-2015), challenges faced by  them  and to find the solution to overcome such issues.
- Recognition of degree inclusion under section 35 of NCISM Act, 2020 has been initiated.
- Recognition  of  degree  inclusion  under  section  36  of  NCISM  Act,  2020  for  Foreign Students is going to be initiated.
- NCISM has initiated the proceedings to facilitate industry academic interface to provide industry oriented training for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani PG students.
- Implementation of National Exit test is under process.
- Steps have been taken by NCISM to formulate the Methodology to incorporate Modern Advances,  Scientific  and  Technological  Development  in  the  curriculum  of  Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani.
- Indian  system  of  medicine  and  Homoeopathy  medical  colleges  should  get  NAAC  and NABH accreditation for quality services to public through attached hospitals.

## Summary of Pharmacopoeial and related publications

## Publications related to Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia

| Document                     | Part &Year of Publication                                   |   No. of Formulations |
|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Ayurvedic Formulary of India | Part I, 2003 (Second edition)                               |                   444 |
| Ayurvedic Formulary of India | Part II, 2000                                               |                   191 |
| Ayurvedic Formulary of India | Part III, 2011 (Bilingual)                                  |                   350 |
| Ayurvedic Formulary of India | Formulary specification of Ayush Kvātha Cūrṇa (Stand-alone) |                    01 |
| Ayurvedic Formulary of India | Total                                                       |                   986 |

| Document                         | Part                    | Volume &Year of Publication                                  |   No. of Monographs |
|----------------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Vol. I, 1986                                                 |                  80 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Vol. II, 1999                                                |                  78 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Vol. III, 2001                                               |                 100 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Vol. IV, 2004                                                |                  68 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Vol. V, 2006                                                 |                  92 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Vol. VI, 2008                                                |                 101 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Vol. VII, 2008 (Minerals &Metals)                            |                  21 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Vol. VIII, 2011 (Hydro-alcoholic &Water extracts)            |                  60 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Vol. IX, 2017 (Hydro-alcoholic &Water extracts)              |                  45 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)   | Total                                                        |                 645 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulation s) | Vol. I, 2007                                                 |                  50 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulation s) | Vol. II, 2008                                                |                  51 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulation s) | Vol. III, 2010                                               |                  51 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulation s) | Vol. IV, 2017                                                |                  50 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulation s) | Pharmacopoeial Monograph of Ayush Kvātha Cūrṇa (Stand-alone) |                  01 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulation s) | Total                                                        |                 203 |
| Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulation s) | Vol. I, 2011 (Hindi Ed.)                                     |                  50 |

| Document                               | Part                            | Volume &Year of Publication     |   No. of Monographs |
|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------|
|                                        |                                 | Vol. II, 2011 (Hindi Ed.)       |                  51 |
| Supporting Pharmacopoeial Publications | Thin Layer                      | API Drugs Pt. I, Vol. I, 2009   |                  80 |
| Supporting Pharmacopoeial Publications | Chromatogra phy (TLC) Atlas     | API Drugs Pt. I, Vol. III, 2016 |                  99 |
| Supporting Pharmacopoeial Publications | Macroscopy and Microscopy Atlas | API Drugs Pt.-I Vol. V, 2009    |                  92 |
| Supporting Pharmacopoeial Publications |                                 | API Drugs Pt.-I Vol. I, 2011    |                  80 |

## Publications related to Siddha Pharmacopoeia

| Document                  | Part &Year of Publication                                       |   No. of Formulations |
|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Siddha Formulary of India | Part I (Tamil), 1984                                            |                   248 |
| Siddha Formulary of India | Part II (Tamil), 2011                                           |                   151 |
| Siddha Formulary of India | Formulary specification of Ayush Kuṭinīr Cūraṇam (Stand- alone) |                    01 |
| Siddha Formulary of India | Total                                                           |                   400 |
| Siddha Formulary of India | Part I (English), 1992                                          |                   248 |

| Document                      | Part                   | Volume &Year of Publication                                     |   No. of Monographs |
|-------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Vol. I, 2008                                                    |                  73 |
| Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Vol. II, 2011                                                   |                  66 |
| Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Total                                                           |                 139 |
| Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulations) | Pharmacopoeial Monograph of Ayush Kuṭinīr Cūraṇam (Stand-alone) |                  01 |

## Publications related to Unani Pharmacopoeia

| Document                             | Part &Year of Publication                                       |   No. of Formulations |
|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| National Formulary of Unani Medicine | Part. I, 1981                                                   |                   441 |
| National Formulary of Unani Medicine | Part II, 2007                                                   |                   202 |
| National Formulary of Unani Medicine | Part III, 2007                                                  |                   103 |
| National Formulary of Unani Medicine | Part IV, 2006                                                   |                   166 |
| National Formulary of Unani Medicine | Part V, 2008                                                    |                   178 |
| National Formulary of Unani Medicine | Part VI, 2011                                                   |                   139 |
| National Formulary of Unani Medicine | Formulary specification of Ayush Safūf-i-Joshānda (Stand-alone) |                    01 |
| National Formulary of Unani Medicine | Total                                                           |                  1230 |

| Document                     | Part                   | Volume &Year of Publication                                       |   No. of Monographs |
|------------------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Vol. I, 1998                                                      |                  45 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Vol. II, 2007                                                     |                  50 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Vol. III, 2007                                                    |                  53 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Vol. IV, 2007                                                     |                  50 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Vol. V, 2008                                                      |                  52 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Vol. VI, 2009                                                     |                  48 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part I (Single Drugs)  | Total                                                             |                 298 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulations) | Vol. I, 2009                                                      |                  50 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulations) | Vol. II, 2010                                                     |                  50 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulations) | Vol. III, 2017                                                    |                  50 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulations) | Vol. IV, 2019                                                     |                  50 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulations) | Pharmacopoeial Monograph of Ayush Safūf-i-Joshānda (Stand- alone) |                  01 |
| Unani Pharmacopoeia of India | Part II (Formulations) | Total                                                             |                 201 |

## Publications related to Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia

| Document                            | Volume &Year of Publication   |   No. of Monographs |
|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------|
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. I, 1971                  |                 180 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. II, 1974                 |                 100 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. III, 1978                |                 105 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. IV, 1984                 |                 107 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. V, 1987                  |                 114 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. VI, 1990                 |                 104 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. VII, 1999                |                 105 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. VIII, 2000               |                 101 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. IX, 2006                 |                 100 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Vol. X, 2016                  |                 101 |
| Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India | Total                         |                1117 |