Lok Sabha Question No. 2081 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Globalization of AYUSH System of Medicines
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Arvind Kumar Sharma, Sanjay Bhatia

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2081 ANSWERED ON 15/12/2023

## Globalization of AYUSH System of Medicines

## 2081: DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA:

## SHRI SANJAY BHATIA:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for the Globalization of AYUSH system of medicines;

(b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for qualitative production and distribution of AYUSH medicines;

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to widen and deepen the quality research in AYUSH system of medicines;

(d)  the  details  of  the  initiatives  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  for popularization of Ayurveda;

(e)  the  details  of  the  digital  initiatives  taken/  proposed  to  be  taken  in  the  field  of AYUSH system of medicine; and

(f)  whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  set  up  any  new  National  Institute  of AYUSH during the last five years and the current year and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a)  The  Ministry  of  Ayush,  to  further  the  global  promotion  and  recognition  of AYUSH systems of medicine, developed the central sector scheme for the Promotion of  International  Cooperation  for  AYUSH.  Under  this  scheme  the  Ministry  provides support  to  Indian  AYUSH  drug  Manufacturers/  Ayush  Service  providers  for  the export  of  AYUSH products and services. Ministry also facilitates  the  interaction  of stakeholders and market development of AYUSH at the international level, promote academics  and  research  through  the  establishment  of  AYUSH  Academic  Chairs  in foreign  countries,  and  holds  training  workshop/symposiums  for  promoting  and strengthening awareness and interest about AYUSH  Systems  of  Medicine  at international level.

The Ministry of Ayush has encouraged and facilitated the establishment of AYUSH Export  Promotion  Council  (AYUSHEXCIL)  to  promote  the  export  of  AYUSH products and services.

Ministry  of  Ayush  is  engaged  in  multilateral  cooperation  on  Traditional  Medicine with forums viz. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), G20 etc. The initiatives taken by Ministry has led to establishment of  India-EU Technical Working Group (TWG) on Ayurveda, and an Expert Working Group (EWG) on Traditional Medicine under SCO. The Ministry organised B2B meeting under SCO and a conference of ASEAN countries in 2023. The ministry also participates in various trade agreements and bilateral trade meetings by  the  Ministry  of  Commerce.  The  Ministry  also  has  collaboration  with  WHO  by signing of various agreements for promoting Indian traditional medicines globally.

The Ministry of Ayush offers scholarships to foreign nationals for studying AYUSH courses in recognized  AYUSH institutions in India under the International AYUSH Fellowship/Scholarship Programme.

The government of India introduced a new Visa Regime under chapter 11A i.e. Ayush (AY)  visa  for  foreigners  visiting  India  for  treatment  under  Ayush  systems/  Indian systems of medicine and also to provide e-Ayush visa and e-Ayush Attendant visa to such foreigners.

To further strengthen international cooperation, following Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) for cooperation in the field of traditional medicines signed by the Ministry of Ayush are as follows,

-  Signed 24 Country-to-Country MoUs with various countries across the globe.
-  Signed  46  MoUs  with  international  institutes  for  undertaking  Collaborative Research / Academic collaboration.
-  Signed  15  MoUs  with  international  institutes  for  setting  up  of  AYUSH Academic Chairs in foreign nations.

(b)  For qualitative production and distribution of medicines, the following steps have been taken by the Ministry of Ayush

- I. Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Ayush which is mandated to develop pharmacopoeial standards for ASU&H drugs and medicines. Further, it is the central appellate laboratory for testing ASU&H drugs and medicines.
- II. It  has  been  mandated  for  the  manufacturers  to  adhere  to  the  prescribed requirements for licensing of manufacturing units & medicines including proof of safety & effectiveness, compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as per Schedule T & Schedule M-I of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 and quality standards of drugs given in the respective pharmacopoeia.
- III. Rule  160  A  to  J  of  the  Drugs  and  Cosmetics  Rules,  1945  provides  the regulatory guidelines for approval of Drug Testing Laboratory for carrying out such  tests  of  identity,  purity,  and  strength  of  Ayurvedic,  Siddha  and  Unani drugs  as  may  be  required  under  the  provisions  of  these  rules,  on  behalf  of licensee for manufacture of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs.
- IV. In  2021,  the  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  implemented  Central  Sector  Scheme AYUSH Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY). The total financial allocation to this scheme is Rs. 122.00 crores for five years. The detailed components of the AOGUSY  scheme  may  be  found  in https://ayush.gov.in/images/Schemes/aoushdhi.pdf

(c)  The  Government  of  India,  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  strengthened  the  respective research  councils  for  each  of  the  AYUSH  systems  for  undertaking,  coordinating, formulating,  developing,  and  promoting  research  on  scientific  lines.  The  research councils  have  collaborated  with  institutes  of  national  repute  such  as  AIIMS,  BHU, IIT, ICMR, CSIR, etc.

The National Ayush Research Consortium (NARC) is established with the constitution  of  a  committee  under  the  chairmanship  of  Secretary,  Ayush  along  with the Secretaries of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology  (DBT),  Department  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (DSIR), Department  for  Promotion  of  Industry  and  Internal  Trade  (DPIIT),  Department  of Commerce (DoC) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEF & CC) for promoting collaboration in Ayush research among scientific bodies.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Ministry  of Ayush  and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on 11-05-2023 to promote and develop cooperation  and  collaboration  on  integrative  health  research  and  capacity  building. The  Ministry  has  also  developed  the  Ayush  Research  Portal  for  disseminating evidence-based research data on Ayush Systems.

(d)  The  Ministry  of  Ayush,  through  its  Information  Education  and  Communication (IEC)  Program  and  schemes,  actively  promotes  the  Ayurveda  system  through supporting and organizing National/State level Arogya melas, exhibitions, expos, and other programs.

The dissemination of IEC materials is extended through outreach programs, including the Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) Research Program, Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP), in various states through peripheral institutes. Additionally, IEC materials  are  made  available  on  electronic  and  print  media,  and  websites  for  wider public access.

Ministry  of  Ayush  celebrates  'Ayurveda  Day'  every  year  on  the  occasion  of Dhanwantari Jayanti (Dhanteras). The Ministry undertakes various activities involving stakeholders  and  well-wishers  of  Ayurveda  throughout  the  country  and  abroad (through  Indian  Missions)  for  the  promotion,  propagation  and  popularization  of Ayurveda.

(e)  The  Ministry  of  Ayush,  Government  of  India,  launched  Ayush  grid  (AG),  an Ayush-focused Digital Health Platform (DHP), in 2018. It functions in line with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The outcomes of this endeavor in terms of 'Ayush digital infrastructure (ADPI)' so far as follows:

1. Health services: Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) enabled Ayush Hospital Information Management System (AHMIS)
2. Education: Education  Learning  Management  System  (eLMS)  for  National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCISM) and National Commission for Homoeopathy(NCH), Ayush Next Portal, AyuSoft
3. Ayush research: Implementation and maintenance of National Ayush Morbidity  and  Standardized  Electronic  (NAMASTE)  portal,  Ayush  Research Portal, ACCR/AyurCel Portal
4. Central  sector  and  centrally  sponsored  schemes,  training  programmes: NGO-Portal
5. Citizen-centric  services: Ministry  of  Ayush  website,  Ayush  GIS  System integrated with PM-GatiShakti National Masterplan, Y-Break App, W.H.O-YYoga App,
6. Drug licensing portal: e-Aushadhi portal
7. Media  outreach: Campaign  Portal,  Engagement  with  various  social  medial platforms.
8. (f) The new institutional status during the last five years is as follows,
1. The Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda has emerged as Institute of National  Importance  (INI)  by  merging  three  institutes  i.e.  Institute  of  Post Graduate Teaching &  Research in Ayurveda, Gulabkunverba Ayurveda College and Indian Institute of Ayurveda Pharmaceutical Sciences on 15.10.2020.
2. The North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR) was developed by upgrading The North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM)- Pasighat (Arunachal Pradesh) by incorporating Ayurveda in Aug 2021.
3. The National Research Institute of Sowa Rigpa was upgraded to the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa' in Leh, UT of Ladakh in Nov 2019.
4. The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa, as a satellite institute of AIIA, New Delhi, the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Ghaziabad, as a satellite institute of NIUM, Bengaluru, and the National Institute of Homoeopathy  (NIH),  Delhi  as  a  satellite  institute  of  NIH,  Kolkata,  were inaugurated  on 11 th December 2022. Also, the Government has approved for establishing a Satellite Institute of NIA, Jaipur in Panchkula.

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