Lok Sabha Question No. 92 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Promotion of Ayurvedic Medicines
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Malook Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 92

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  February 2024

"Promotion of Ayurvedic Medicine"

## † 92. SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- a) the initiatives taken by the Government to promote Ayurvedic system of medicine and to conduct research in AYUSH in various parts of the country particularly those areas rich in medicinal herbs, State/UT-wise;
- b) whether the Government has formulated any policy to utilise the immense potential for Ayurvedic system of medicines at global level;
- c) if so, the details thereof and
- d) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

- (a) The  Government  of  India  has  setup  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)  an  autonomous organization for undertaking coordinating formulating, developing and promoting research on scientific lines in Ayurveda. The research activities are carried out through 30 Institutes/Centres located all over India and through collaborative studies with various universities, hospitals and institutes as per (Annexure I).

## Core Research Activities:

-  Clinical Research
-  Medicinal  Plant  Research  (Medico-ethnobotanical Survey, Pharmacognosy,  and Cultivation)
-  Drug Standardization
-  Pharmacological Research
-  Literary Research & Documentation Programme
-  Public Health research-oriented activities
-  Besides  this,  Healthcare  services  through  Outpatient  departments  (OPD),  inpatient departments (IPDs), and Special clinics for Geriatric Health care.

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) is in active collaboration with  institutes  of  national  repute  such  as  All  India  Institute  of  Medical  Sciences  (AIIMS) New Delhi, Banaras  Hindu  University  (BHU),  Indian  Institute  of  Technology  (IIT  Delhi), (IIT  Guwahati),  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  (ICMR),  Council  of  Scientific  & Industrial Research (CSIR), Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO), Jawahar Lal  Nehru  University  (JNU),  National  Innovation  Foundation,  Indian  Institutes  of  Science Education and Research ( IISER) Pune, etc.

The  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Ayurvedic  Sciences  (CCRAS)  has  launched  two electronic journals named Journal of Drug Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (JDRAS), Journal of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (JRAS) and Journal of Indian Medical Heritage (JIMH) and put them in the public domain free of cost to enable dissemination of the outcomes of research among the public. So far, the Council has published about 397 books, monographs, and technical reports, and they are being sold or distributed to disseminate research outcomes and merits of Ayurveda at large. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)  has  also  developed  four  digital  platforms,  viz.  AYUSH  Manuscripts  Advanced Repository  (AMAR),  Showcase  of  Ayurvedic  Historical  Imprints  (SAHI),  E-  Medical Heritage  Accession  (E-  Medha),  Research  Management  Information  System  (RMIS)  and maintains  a  website  entitled  Ayush  Research  Portal  in  which  all  published  research information  related  to  all  Ayush  systems  is  uploaded  systematically  for  wider  utility  and visibility  of  research.  Further,  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Homeopathy  (CCRH)  is having a peripheral Institute namely Centre for Medicinal Plants Research in Homoeopathy (CMPRH), Ooty, for preservation, identification, documentation cultivation and commercial use of medicinal plants. CMPRH, Ooty is maintaining the germplasm of important exotic and indigenous  homoeopathic  medicinal  plants  in  the  research  garden  at  CMPRH.  Further, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and Central Council for Research in  Siddha  (CCRS)  are  also  undertaking  research  activities  including  pre-clinical,  clinical, drug standardization, fundamental and literary research, survey and cultivation of medicinal plants.

(b)  &  (c)  The  Ministry  of  Ayush  developed  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Promotion  of International  Co-operation  in  Ayush  (IC  Scheme)  under  which  various  activities/initiatives has been undertaken or being undertaken for the promotion and propagation of Ayush system of  medicine  at  global  level  i.e.  offering  Ayush  scholarships  to  foreign  nationals  for undertaking  Ayush  courses  in  recognized  Ayush  institutions  in  India,  collaboration  with Foreign Countries by signing of country level Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  for undertaking Ayush related activities on mutual interest,  for research/academic collaboration, establishment of Ayush Chairs in Foreign Universities/Institutes, deputation of Ayush expert (short  term/long  term),  collaboration  with  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  or  United Nation  (UN)  agencies  for  cooperation  in  the field  of  Ayush,  support  or  organizing international  training,  conference,  seminar,  expo  etc.  in  India  or  abroad  for  promoting  and strengthening awareness and interest about Ayush Systems of Medicine at international level, establishment  of  Ayush  cell  (center)  in  foreign  countries  to  provide  authentic  information about Ayush system, representing Ayush in various multilateral forums like- Brazil Russia India China South Africa (BRICS), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), G20, IndiaBrazil-South  Africa  (IBSA),  Association  of  South  East  Asian  Nations(ASEAN),  Bay  of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical & Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)  etc., support for undertaking clinical research in Ayush at international level etc. 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.

(d)  Does not arise in view of part (b) & (c) above.

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