Lok Sabha Question No. 1143 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-08
Subject: Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Bhola Singh, Jagannath Sarkar, Raja Amareshwara Naik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1143

## ANSWERED ON 08/12/2023

## Traditional and Complementary Medicine

## 1143: DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

## SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

## SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Ministry  of  AYUSH  and  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  have signed Traditional and Complementary Medicine Project Collaboration Agreement in November 2023 and if so, the details thereof along with its objectives;
- (b)  whether  the  Traditional  Medicine  Global  Strategy  2025-34  proposed  to  be prepared  by  WHO  is  supposed  to  connect  Traditional  and  Complementary  Medical Systems  with  mainstream  National  Health  System  of  India  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c)  whether  an  International  Herbal  Pharmacopoeia  of  herbs,  which  are  found  in South-East Asia proposed to be developed by the Ministry in collaboration with WHO and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  there  are  specific  strategies  in  place  to  promote  India  as  a  global destination for healthcare services related to Traditional and Complementary Medicines, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e)  whether  the  Government has taken steps to integrate evidence-based Traditional and  Complementary  Medicines  into  the  National  Health  System,  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(f) the other steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

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

(a)  to  (c)  Yes  Sir,  Ministry  of  Ayush  and  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  have signed  a  Project  Collaboration  Agreement  (PCA)  on  17  November,  2023  with  the objective  to  promote  the  standardization,  quality  and  safety  of  Traditional  and Complementary Medicine (T & CM); their integration in National  Health  Systems, biodiversity conservation and sustainability; and consumer protection through supporting  WHO  in  the  development  and  implementation  of  the  WHO  Traditional Medicine  Strategy  2025-2034.  Under  the  PCA,  the  Parties  wish  to  collaborate regarding the project and activities like Development of WHO  publications: Benchmark  for  training  &  practice  in  Siddha,  guidelines  for  developing  national essential medicines list for T & CM system, training module on quality and safety of herbal medicines used in T & CM; to support the development of International Herbal Pharmacopeia with focus on South-East Asia region's traditional medicine ; support the development of Traditional Medicine Global Strategy for 2025-2034 etc.

(d)  Yes Sir, Government of India has 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.

Ministry  of  Ayush,  under  its  central  sector  scheme  for  promotion  of  International Cooperation  for  Ayush,  supports  to  Ayush  Service  providers  to  give  boost  to  the export  of  Ayush  products  and  services;  having  interactions  with  foreign  countries through bilateral meeting, multilateral forums like BRICS, SCO, ASEAN, IBSA, G 20, BIMSTEC etc.; facilitates the International promotion, development & recognition of Ayush systems of medicine; holding training workshop/symposiums for promoting and  strengthening  awareness  and  interest  about  Ayush  Systems  of  Medicine  at international level; signing of MoUs etc. The Ministry of Ayush signed 24 Country- to-Country MoUs for Cooperation in field of Traditional Medicine and Homoeopathy with foreign nations; 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.

Ministry of Ayush promotes to develop world class Ayush hospitals in the country. The  Ministry  under  its  AYURSWASTHYA  YOJANA,  provides  grants  to  Ayush hospitals  for  up-gradation  of  facilities  and  infrastructure;  developing  professional competencies among Ayush professionals etc.  Ministry of Ayush developed a Central Sector  Scheme  under  Champion  Services  Sector  Scheme  (CSSS)  -  Medical  Value Travel with the objective to develop Ayush specific skilled human resource; capacity building of existing skilled human resources; to promote export of services; to develop supporting structure for Ayush health services.

(e & f) Yes Sir, Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have jointly  constituted  a  working  group  under  the  co-chairmanship  of  Hon'ble  Ayush Minister and Hon'ble Health and Family Welfare Minister to facilitate and resolve the issues for the integration of the Ayush system into the National Health System. Other steps have been taken for integration of Ayush into the National Health Systems, are as under:

- i. Government of India has adopted a strategy of Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), thus enabling the choice to the patients for different systems of medicines under a single window. The engagement of Ayush doctors/ paramedics and their training is supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under National  Health  Mission  (NHM),  while  the  support  for  Ayush  infrastructure, equipment/ furniture and medicines are provided by the Ministry of Ayush under National Ayush Mission (NAM) as shared responsibilities.
- ii. Ministry  of  Ayush  is  implementing  the  operationalization  of  Ayush  Health  and Wellness  Centres  (AHWCs)  under  Ayushman  Bharat  as  a  component  of  the

Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments  with  an  objective  to  establish  a  holistic  wellness  model  based  on Ayush principles and practices. Under NAM, as per the proposals received from State/UT Governments through their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs), 12,500 units  of  existing  Ayush  dispensaries  and  Sub-centers  have  been  approved  to  be upgraded as AHWCs in the State/UT Governments.

- iii. Integration  of  Ayurveda  through  All  India  Institute  of  Ayurveda  (AIIA)-  New Delhi is being implemented at Safdarjung Hospital- New Delhi, AIIMS- Jhajjar, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand and  Arogya  Van,  Ekta  Nagar,  Kevadia  Forest  Division,  Statue  of  Unity  area Development  and  Tourism  Governance  Authority  (SoUADTGA),  Gujarat.  The Institute  has  also  implemented  Centre  for  Integrative  Ayush  Therapy  (Unani, Siddha  &  Homeopathy),  Cancer  Care,  Dentistry,  Critical  Care  &  Emergency Medicine,  Orthopaedics,  Dietetics  and  Nutrition.  Likewise,  National  Institute  of Homoeopathy, Kolkata provides Homoeopathic consultation at Centenary Hospital, Shyama  Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata along with mainstream medicine.
- iv. Total of 107 Ayush Dispensaries/units are functioning under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
- v. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has conducted feasibility  studies  for  integration  of  Ayurvedic  treatment  in  management  of Osteoarthritis, National Programme  for  Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS), Reproductive and Child Health (RCH).
- vi. The  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  signed  the  Memorandum  of  Understanding  with Ministry of Defence for: -
- a) Integration of Ayurveda /Ayush under the heath establishments in Cantonment Board Hospital/Dispensaries under Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE) as an OPD service and under this Memorandum of Understanding 37 Ayurveda OPD's are established in various Cantonment Board Hospitals/Dispensaries.
- b) Extending the service of Ayurveda in the health establishments in Ministry of  Defence  (MoD)/  Directorate  General  Armed  Force  Medical  Services (DGAFMS) as OPD services and under this Memorandum of Understanding 12 Ayurveda units are established in Service hospitals under the Armed Forces Medical Services.
- c) Integration of Ayurveda in 10 Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme(ECHS) polyclinic as an OPD service.
- vii. As  per  the  annual  report  2021-2022  of  Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation (ESIC),  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment,  total  of  358  Ayush  units  are functioning in Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)/ Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) hospitals and dispensaries.
- viii. Ministry  of  Ayush  has  signed  the  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  with Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to extend the services of Ayush in the health establishments in 12 Major ports.

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