Lok Sabha Question No. 1288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Promotion of AYUSH Products
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Faizal P.P. Mohammed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1288 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 th  February, 2024

## 1288. SHRI MOHAMMED FAIZAL P.P.:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has reversed the applicability of the rule regarding false and  misleading advertisements  for  AYUSH  products  without introducing  any alternative provisions for the same;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is aware that Delhi High Court has enquired about the inclusion of AYUSH under the Ayushman Bharat scheme;

(d) if so, whether the Government intends to include AYUSH under the said scheme; and

(e)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government  to  improve  the employment for AYUSH graduates considering the fact of lack  of  jobs  and public trust deficit in the practice?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) & (b) Government of India has taken following initiatives  regarding  misleading advertisement of Ayush products -
- (i) Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Rules  thereunder  encompass  the  provisions  for  prohibition  of  misleading advertisements and exaggerated claims of drugs and medicinal substances

including Ayush medicines, which appear in the print and electronic media and  Government  has  taken  note  thereof.  State/UT  Governments  are empowered  to  enforce the provisions of  Drugs  &  Magic  Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 & Rules thereunder.

- (ii) Ministry of Ayush, Government of India has launched the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta  evam  Uttpadan  Samvardhan  Yojana  (AOGUSY)  the  Central Sector  Scheme  for  augmenting  quality  of  Ayush  drugs  during  the  15th Finance Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) by merging the existing Central Sector Schemes of Pharmacovigilance initiative, Central Drug Controller of Ayush and  Quality  Control  of  ASU&H  drugs  and  inclusion  of  certain  new elements to facilitate standardization, effective enforcement of rules/regulations, technology up-gradation for manufacturing and analytical testing, certification/accreditation and training & capacity building activities intended towards quality assurance of Ayush drugs.

Further, Pharmacovigilance Centres for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy  (ASU&H)  Drugs  set  up  in  different  parts  of  the  country under  the  Central  Sector  'Ayush  Oushadhi  Gunvatta  Evam  Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana Scheme' (AOGUSY Scheme) of Ministry of Ayush, are mandated  to  monitor  and  report  the  misleading  advertisements  to  the respective State Regulatory Authorities. Ministry of Ayush has established a 3  tire  network  of  pharmacovigilance  centers  distributed  throughout  the country, 1-National  Pharmacovigilance  Center  (NPvC),  5-Intermediary Pharmacovigilance  Centers  (IPvC)  &  99-  Peripheral  Pharmacovigilance Centers (PPvC). Under Pharmacovigilance Program the objectionable/misleading  advertisements  are  regularly  being  reported  to respective State Licensing Authorities.

- (iii) The  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  (DoCA)  maintains  the  Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements (GAMA) portal, providing a platform to address instances of misleading advertisements. Further, as the regulations  and  enforcement  for  TV  Channels  falls  under  the  mandate  of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB), therefore references of

misleading advertisement getting broadcasted on TV channels are forwarded to MOIB for action.

- (c) & (d)  As  one  of  the  respondent,  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  received  a  Writ Petition (C) PIL No. 14289 of 2023, filed before the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi wherein the petitioner has prayed to include Ayush systems under Ayushman  Bharat-  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Arogya  Yojana  (AB-PMJAY) scheme and the matter is still pending before the Honble High Court of Delhi. Further, Ministry of Ayush has initiated efforts to include of Ayush interventions  in  Ayushman  Bharat-Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Aarogya  Yojana (AB-PMJAY)  in  2018  by  submitting  its  proposal  to  National  Health Authority.  Further,  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  also  requested  Ministry  of Health and Family Welfare to take necessary action for inclusion of Ayush treatment packages in health insurance scheme so as the beneficiaries can avail such treatment packages of Ayush systems under AB-PMJAY.

(e)          The  steps  taken  by  the  government  to  improve  employment  for  AYUSH graduates are as follows.

- (i) National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) exclusively deals with education, research, and related activities with ASUS Colleges that have attached teaching hospitals. Through ASUS Colleges, opportunities for teaching, practicing, and conducting research are provided to Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa-Rigpa (ASUS) graduates.

National  Commission  for  Indian  System  of  Medicine  (NCISM)  is conducting an "Entrepreneurship Development" training workshop for the coordinators of ASUS Colleges in association with NI-MSME Hyderabad.

- (ii)    To enhance employment opportunities for Homoeopathy graduates, in draft regulation  National  Commission  for  Homoeopathy  (Minimum  Essential Standards for Homoeopathic Colleges and Attached Hospitals) Regulations, 2024 increases the faculty requirement in each Homoeopathy Medical  Institute  from  a  minimum  of  28  to  40.  This  initiative  aims  to

facilitate job creation at the State Government/Union Territory level for the Homoeopathy fraternity.

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