Lok Sabha Question No. 2199 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: Contribution of AYUSH in Medical Field
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2199 ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025

## Contribution of AYUSH in Medical Field

†2199. Shri Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh:

- Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state: (a)  the  details  of  contribution  of  AYUSH to the  medical field in the country  and the steps taken by the Government to strengthen it; (b) the specific schemes and policies implemented to make AYUSH Value Medical Travel in India as global centre; (c) the manner in which the Government is giving assistance in streamlining the process in AYUSH field and making the experience of foreign patients better; (d)  the  details  of  the  programmes  being implemented to train the skilled workforce for the AYUSH field; and (e)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  meet  the  growing  demand  of  AYUSH
- services at domestic as well as international  level?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) The Ministry of Ayush (MoA) has significantly contributed to preventive, promotive, and  curative  healthcare  through  a  well-established  institutional  framework.  Regulation  of education  and  professional  practice  is  regulated  through  two  statutory  commissions,  the 'National  Commission  for  Indian  System  of  Medicine'  for  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  and

Sowa-Rigpa  and  the  'National  Commission  for  Homoeopathy'.  Further,  the  MoA  has established 12 National level teaching Institutes that have made significant contributions in the medical field by integrating quality education, clinical services, and outreach. They offer undergraduate,  postgraduate,  and  doctoral  courses  along  with  specialty  training  programs. They  provide  OPD/IPD  (Outpatient  Department/  Inpatient  Department)  services  through NABH/NABL (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers/ National Accreditation  Board  for  Testing  and  Calibration  Laboratories)  accredited  hospitals  and organize health camps, awareness drives, and community-based initiatives across the country.

Scientific validation and development of Ayush systems are supported by five autonomous research councils viz. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council  for  Research  in  Homoeopathy  (CCRH),  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), and Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN).

CCRAS, CCRUM and CCRH provide OPD and IPD services and undertake outreach programmes  through  their  extensive  networks-  30  institutes  under  CCRAS,  21  under CCRUM, and 27 units with 6 treatment centres under CCRH. These initiatives include the Scheduled  Caste  Sub  Plan,  Tribal  Health  Care,  school  health  programmes,  and  mobile clinical  research,  significantly  enhancing  the  reach  and  accessibility  of  Ayush  healthcare across the country. Additionally, the  CCRS  delivers  healthcare  through  9  peripheral institutes,  while  the  CCRYN operates 8 institutes,  10  wellness  centres,  and  10  Mind-Body Intervention centres, promoting holistic health services nationwide.

Ayush also administers one Public Sector Undertaking Indian Medicines Pharmaceuticals  Corporation  Limited  (IMPCL)  for  manufacturing  quality-assured  Ayush Medicines and one subordinate office, the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and  Homoeopathy,  responsible  for  drug  standardization  and  also  serves  as  a  central  apex laboratory.

Ministry of Ayush is also implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH  Mission  (NAM)  through  State/UT  Governments  and  supporting  their  efforts  to provide  Ayush  treatment  facility  in  the  country  by  providing  financial  assistance  to  them under different activities as per the provision of NAM guidelines against their submitted State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs).

The matters related to ASU& H (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy) drugs are governed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 made thereunder.

(b) Ministry  of  Ayush  signed  a  Memorandum  of  Understanding  with  India  Tourism Development  Corporation  (ITDC),  Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India  to  work together  for  the  promotion  of  Medical  Value  Travel  in  Ayurveda  and  other  traditional systems of medicine. Ministry of Ayush also organized Medical Value Travel Summits for Western and Southern zone of the Country with the aim of strengthening India's Position in Medical  Value  Travel.  The  summit  fostered  collaboration  between  state  Governments, Industry leaders, and healthcare providers to expand Ayush-based Medical Value Travel.

(c) The Government has introduced a separate category of Ayush Visa on 27th July, 2023 for foreigners and their attendants (other than a Pakistani national) visiting India for availing treatment under Ayush systems of medicine.

The  Medical  and  Ayush  Visa  Portal,  governed  by  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  is designed to streamline and regulate the entry of legitimate foreign patients, ensuring that only authorized  hospitals  invite  genuine  patients  for  treatment  through  pre-validated  Medical Visas.  This  portal  allows  registered  hospitals/  wellness  centres  to  generate  Medical  Visa Invitation  Letters  and  Extension  Letters  for  Medical  Visa,  Medical  Attendant  Visa,  and Ayush  Attendant  Visa.  Hospitals/wellness  centres  operating  in  India  can  register  on  this portal and log in using the login ID and password provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The portal can be accessed at the following URL: https://indianfrro.gov.in/frro/medicalvaluetravel.

(d) and (e) The  Ministry  of  Ayush  is  undertaking  several  initiatives  to  strengthen  and train  a  skilled  workforce  in  the  Ayush  sector  through  structured  capacity-building  and training programs, as well as to meet the growing need of Ayush services at domestic as well as international level. The details of the initiatives are enclosed at Annexure I.

## Details  of  Initiatives  undertaken  by  Ministry  of  Ayush  to  train  skilled  workforce  for Ayush field  and  steps  being  taken  to  meet  the  growing  demand  of  Ayush  services  at domestic and international level:

- a. The Ministry of Ayush is implementing a Central Sector Scheme titled 'Ayurgyan' since 2021-22, which includes a key component on Capacity Building and Continuing Medical Education in Ayush. Under this component, support is extended to eligible organizations across the country to conduct training and capacity-building programs  aimed  at encouraging Ayush personnel to undergo need-based professional training and to bridge knowledge gaps in clinical and technical areas.
- b. Ministry  of  Ayush  developed  the  central  sector  scheme  for  Promotion  of  International Cooperation for Ayush (IC Scheme). Under this scheme, the Ministry provides support to Indian Ayush drug Manufacturers/ Ayush Service providers to give boost to the export of Ayush  products  and  services.  The  scheme  facilitates the International  promotion, development and recognition of  Ayush systems of medicine; fosters interaction  among stakeholders; and promotes market development  of Ayush  at international level. Additionally,  the  scheme  supports  academics  and  research  promotion  through  the establishment of Ayush Academic Chairs in foreign countries and organization of training workshop/symposiums aimed at strengthening awareness and interest in Ayush Systems of Medicine at international level.
- c. CCRAS  is  actively  contributing  to  capacity  building  in  the  field  of  Ayush  research through various initiatives such as:
4.  SPARK  (Studentship  Program  for  Ayurveda  Research  Ken)  to  promote  research aptitude among undergraduate Ayurveda students;
5.  PG  Star  (Scheme  for  Training  in  Ayurveda  Research  for  Post-Graduate  Scholars) primarily  aimed  at  promoting  good  quality  research  in  Ayurveda  students  pursuing post-graduation  courses  as  well  as  to  improve  visibility  and  accessibility  of  their research work to larger research audience.;
6.  Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Fellowship Programs to support advanced academic research;
7.  PRAYATNA  aimed  at  cultivating  and  enhancing  scientific  writing  skills  among postgraduate (PG) and doctoral (PhD) scholars in the field of Ayurveda, and;
8.  ARMS (Ayurveda Research Methodology and Statistics) training, aimed at building the foundation in Research Methodology and Biostatics for Ayurveda Scholars.
- d. To enhance the capacity of Ayush physicians, Ayush vertical under Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)  has conducted National Level Master Training in collaboration  with  Central  Health  Education  Bureau  (CHEB),  DGHS  on  Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) for all States/UTs during 13-17 May 2024, ensuring their effective dissemination to end users.
- e. Pharmacopoeia  Commission  for  Indian  Medicine  and  Homoeopathy  (PCIM&H)  on behalf  of  Ministry  of  Ayush  is  imparting  training  to  the  Drug  Regulatory  Authorities, State  Drug  Testing  Laboratories  (Drug  Analysts),  etc.  on  laboratory  techniques  and methods  essential  for  ensuring  the  quality  of  ASU&H  (Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  and Homoeopathy) drugs.
- f. In addition, regular training programs, workshops, and seminars are organized at various National Ayush Institutes and Research Councils to upgrade the knowledge and skills of Ayush professionals across different domains.