Lok Sabha Question No. 3182 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Ayurvedic Doctors
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Sanjay Kumar Bandi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3182 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## AYURVEDIC DOCTORS

## 3182. SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  ancient  system  of  ayurveda  medicine  has  great  benefits  in  curing  COVID-19 disease, if so, the details thereof along with the recommendations made to COVID-19 patients under this system;

- (b) whether the Government is aware that there are many ayurveda doctors, traditional hereditary family  persons,  whose  forefathers  were  into  ayurveda  practice  had  come  out  with  medicines claimed to be successful in containing virus in patients;
- (c)  if so, the details of such doctors/persons and their medicines, State/UT-wise;
- (d) the number of Ayurveda doctors involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients across the country, State/ UT-wise; and
- (e)    whether  the  Government  had  considered  them  as  frontline  workers  and  given  priority  in vaccination, if so, details of vaccine administered on ayurveda doctors in the country, especially in the State of Telangana?

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

(a): i. Ministry of Ayush recommended self-care guidelines for preventive health measures and boosting immunity.

ii.  Government  of  India  has  released 'National  Clinical  Management  Protocol  based  on Ayurveda and Yoga for management of COVID-19' .

iii.  Ministry of Ayush has also released Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha preventive measures for self-care during COVID-19 and Guidelines for AYUSH Practitioners for COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation.

iv.  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  also  issued  advisory  for  AYUSH  practitioners  on  ethical  practices during COVID-19 pandemic.

v.  Ministry  of  AYUSH  has  released  Home  care  guidelines  for  children  and  Advisory  for AYUSH Practitioners about prophylactic care in Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

vi. AYUSH-64 and Kabasur Kudineer has been identified for COVID-19 treatment. The research outcomes  of  the  clinical  trials  has  demonstrated  efficacy  of  AYUSH-64  in  the  treatment  of asymptomatic  &  mild  cases  as  standalone  and  for  the  management  of  mild  and  moderate COVID-19 as an adjunct to standard care. It was observed that AYUSH-64 as adjunct treatment to  Standard  Care  resulted  in  significant  improvement  in  clinical  recovery.  AYUSH-64  is  also recommended  in 'National  Clinical  Management  Protocol  (NCMP)  based  on  Ayurveda  and Yoga for management of COVID-19'. Further, Kabasur Kudineer, a Siddha preparation was also subjected to clinical trials for studying the efficacy in COVID-19 patients by the Central Council for  Research  in  Siddha  (CCRS)  under  the  Ministry  of  Ayush  and  is  also  found  useful  in  the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 infection.

vii.  In  order  to  provide  maximum  benefit  of  AYUSH  systems  of  medicine,  a  nationwide campaign has been undertaken for distribution of AYUSH-64 and Kabasura Kudineer through the  Research  Councils  and  the  National  Institutes  under  the  Ministry  of  Ayush  across  the country.

(b)  &  (c): The  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  set  up  an  online  channel  on  its  website  for  receiving suggestions based on scientific explanations and proposals on therapies and procedures prepared based  on  standard  scientific  guidelines  that  could  restrain  the  spread  of  the  COVID  -19 pandemic, or to manage the disease. The Ministry has accordingly invited inputs from AYUSH practitioners and AYUSH institutions. The inputs received were scrutinized by a Committee of Experts.  These  proposals  recommended  by  the  Scrutiny  Committee  were  taken  up  for  further studies.

Further, Ministry of AYUSH has constituted an Interdisciplinary Technical Review Committee (ITRC) for COVID-19 for the examination of the applications/claims on patent & proprietary (P&P) ASU&H medicines/ classical ASU& H medicines with new indication or re-purposing of licensed P&P, ASU&H  medicines for COVID-19, forwarded by the State Licensing Authorities/Individuals referred by the Drug Policy Section of Ministry of Ayush.

(d)  &  (e): As  informed  by  State/UTs  including  State  of  Telangana,  Ayurvedic  doctors  are considered as frontline workers. Details are at Annexure.

Annexure State/UT-wise details of  Ayurvedic doctors  considered as frontline workers and priority given for vaccination .

|   S. No. | Name of The State/ UT             | State/ UT-wise number of Ayurveda doctors involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients across the country                                                                                                  | State/UT wise information regarding Ayurvedic doctors as frontline workers, given priority in vaccination.                                                                                          |
|----------|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | UT of Jammu and Kashmir           | 513 AYUSH doctors are working under the purview of Directorate of ISM (Ayush) involved in treatment etc. of COVID-19 patients in close liaison with Allopathic Counterparts throughout the UT of J&K.        | AYUSH Doctors working under the purview of Directorate of ISM (Ayush) in the UT of J&K are considered Frontline workers and have been administered COVID vaccination as per the priority.           |
|        2 | Punjab                            | 374 Regular Ayurveda Medical Officer and 134 NHM Ayurveda Medical Officer have been involved in various COVID-19 duties of sampling, Flu corners, Screening duties at Hospitals and vaccination camp duties. | State Government has considered them as frontline workers and all have been vaccinated by the State Health Department                                                                               |
|        3 | UT of Chandigarh                  | Ayurvedic Medical Officer - 06 Senior Ayurvedic Physician-03 Joint Director Ayurveda -01                                                                                                                     | As per the protocol of Govt. Of India, Min. of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi as well as Min. of AYUSH, New Delhi                                                                             |
|        4 | Haryana                           | 472 Ayurveda Doctors                                                                                                                                                                                         | Ayurvedic doctors are considered as frontline workers during COVID-19 and priority in vaccination is given to all frontline workers.                                                                |
|        5 | Manipur                           | 6 nos. of Ayurvedic doctors in Manipur                                                                                                                                                                       | -                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|        6 | Mizoram                           | 12 Ayurveda doctors are involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the state of Mizoram.                                                                                                              | Ayurveda doctors are considered as frontline workers in the state of Mizoram. All have received full dose of vaccine.                                                                               |
|        7 | Meghalaya                         | The State has 41 Ayurvedic units and all of them are involved in the management of COVID-19 crises.                                                                                                          | The Government has considered them as frontline workers and priority for vaccination was given equally like all frontline workers in the state.                                                     |
|        8 | Odisha                            | 225 nos. of Ayurveda doctors are deployed for COVID-19 duty in Odisha.                                                                                                                                       | The Govt. had considered them as frontline workers and given priority in vaccination.                                                                                                               |
|        9 | Andhra Pradesh                    | 256 Medical Officers (Ayurveda) involved in COVID care duties under the supervision of local DM&HOand Dist. Collectors.                                                                                      | The Government has considered the Medical Officers (Ayurveda) involved in COVID Care duties as frontline workers and given priority in vaccination.                                                 |
|       10 | Goa                               | Total 126 Ayurveda Doctors involved in COVID related duties.                                                                                                                                                 | 116 Ayurvedic Doctors are administered first dose and 21 Ayurvedic Doctors administered second dose of vaccination.                                                                                 |
|       11 | UT of Lakshadweep                 | 13 Ayurveda doctors                                                                                                                                                                                          | Yes. All Ayurveda doctors vaccinated as frontline workers.                                                                                                                                          |
|       12 | Kerala                            | Approximately 1900 doctors from Govt. public section & all registered medical practitioners in private sector in Kerala.                                                                                     | Yes. All doctors in govt. sector got vaccinated with priority (1900 numbers)                                                                                                                        |
|       13 | Tamil Nadu                        | One Twenty Four (124) doctors of this department are involved in the treatment of COVID -19 patients.                                                                                                        | Yes, The Govt. of Tamilnadu considered all medical personnel as front line workers. Through district administration, priority was given in vaccination drive.                                       |
|       14 | UT of Puducherry                  | 34 doctors in Ayurveda                                                                                                                                                                                       | -                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|       15 | UT of Andaman And Nicobar Islands | 27 Ayurvedic Doctors working under the Health department of UT Admn. have been involved in various duties during COVID-19 pandemic                                                                           | The UT Administration has considered the Ayurvedic doctors as frontline workers. All the 27 Ayurveda Doctors under the Health Department of UT Administration have been vaccinated against COVID-19 |
|       16 | Telangana                         | 223 Ayurveda doctors                                                                                                                                                                                         | Government of Telangana has considered Ayurveda Doctors as frontline workers and gave vaccination                                                                                                   |