Lok Sabha Question No. 4626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Promotion of Research in Unani System of Medicine
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri Bharatsinhji Shankarji Dabhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4626 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2025

## 'Promotion of Research in Unani System of Medicine'

†4626. Shri Bharatsinhji Shankarji Dabhi:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  research  in  Unani  system  of medicine and integrate it into the mainstream of healthcare system;

(b) the manner in which the Government is supporting evidence-based research in Unani system of medicine to enhance its global acceptance and credibility;

(c) the  measures  being  adopted  to  ensure  that  developed  Unani  medical  technologies remain accessible and affordable to the public;

(d) the efforts being made to standardize and regulate Unani system of medicine to meet international health standards; and

(e) whether  any  initiatives  are  being  taken  to  obtain  global  recognition  such  as  World Health Organisation -Good  Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP)  for  Unani  drug manufacturing units and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) To promote research in Unani system of medicine, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India has setup the Central Council of Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), New Delhi and National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Bengaluru, for education and research in Unani system of medicine which includes development of new drugs as well as conducting clinical trials on scientific lines.  A satellite institute of National Institute of Unani Medicine with 200-bedded hospital is also established at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.  A total number of 21  Clinical  Institutes/Units  are  also  working  under  the  CCRUM  across  the  country.    Both CCRUM and NIUM have taken up a number of clinical research studies for various diseases which include Arthritis, Bronchial Asthma, Anemia, Anxiety, Depressive Disorders, Neurodegenerative diseases, life-style disorders like Hypertension, Obesity dyslipidemia, diabetes and various skin diseases like vitiligo etc.

For integration of Ayush systems, including Unani with modern medicine, Ministry of Ayush is taking multiple initiatives, such as:

i. The Ayush Vertical under Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), established by the Ministry of Ayush  and  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare (MoH&FW), serves  as  a  dedicated  institutional  mechanism  for  planning,  monitoring,  and supervising Ayush-specific public health programs. This vertical provides technical support to both Ministries in developing strategies for public health, healthcare, Ayush education, and training.

ii. The Ayush vertical under DGHS has published Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) on  common  musculoskeletal  disorders,  its  prevention  and  management  through  Ayush systems  including  Unani  system.  To  enhance  the  capacity  of  Ayush  physicians,  Ayush vertical  has  conducted  National  Level  Master  Training  in  collaboration  of  Central  Health Education  Bureau  (CHEB)  across  all  States  on  these  developed  STGs,  ensuring  their effective dissemination to end users.

iii. The Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) have jointly  established  Integrated  Ayush  Departments  in  Central  Government  Hospitals  to promote  integrative  healthcare.  As  part  of  this  initiative,  the  Department  of  Integrative Medicine  has  been  set  up  and  is  operational  at  Vardhman  Mahavir  Medical  College  & Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi.

iv. 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  MoH&FW  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.

v. With a view to include Unani Medicine into mainstream of healthcare system in the country,  the  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Unani  Medicine  (CCRUM)  is  providing healthcare facilities through relocation/extension center at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital-New Delhi, Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital- New Delhi,  All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)- New Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital-New Delhi, AYUSH Wellness Centre, President House, New Delhi, Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy (JJ) Hospital- Mumbai and Extension Research Centre for Unani at Kannur, Kerala with a view to make Unani treatment facility accessible and affordable to the public.

(b) The  Ministry  of  Ayush,  developed  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Promotion  of International Cooperation for AYUSH. 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;  facilitates  the  International  promotion,  development  and recognition of AYUSH systems of medicine; foster interaction of stakeholders and market development of AYUSH at international level; promote academics and research through the establishment  of  AYUSH  Academic  Chairs  in  foreign  countries  and  holding  training

workshop/symposiums  for  promoting  and  strengthening awareness  and  interest about AYUSH Systems of Medicine at international level.

(c) The  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Unani  Medicine  (CCRUM)  is  taking  various initiatives  for  the  promotion  of  Unani  Medicine  e.g.  providing  treatment  through  General OPD,  Reproductive  &  Child  Health  OPD,  Geriatric  OPD,  Non  Communicable  Diseases Clinic  etc.  conducted  by  21  Clinical  Institutes  /  Units  of  the  Council.  The  Council  is  also promoting Unani medicine through Arogyas, Health Melas, Health Camps, and Exhibitions etc.  CCRUM  is  also  promoting  healthcare  services  through  clinical  Mobile  Research programme,  school  health  programme,  Scheduled  Cast  Sub  Plan  /Tribal  Sub  Plan  Mobile Health Care Program, etc.

The  CCRUM  is  taking  various  research  programmes  including  pre-clinical  and  clinical research, drug standardization research, fundamental research etc. to ensure the accessibility and  affordability  to  the  public.    Five  mobile  Apps  have  been  developed  and  Standard Operating  Procedures  (SOPs)  on  Ilaj-bit  Tadbeer  (IBT)  are  being  developed.  Standard Treatment Guidelines on Musculoskeletal disorders have also been developed.

(d) To  standardize  and  regulate  Unani  system  of  Medicine,  National  Commission  for Indian  System  of  Medicine  (NCISM)  notified  regulations  and  framed  Competency  Based Dynamic Curriculum for Under Graduate and Post Graduate.

Ministry  of  Ayush,  Government  of  India  has  established  Pharmacopoeia  Commission  for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), as its subordinate office. PCIM&H on behalf of Ministry of Ayush lays down the Formulary specifications and Pharmacopoeial Standards for  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  &  Homoeopathy  (ASU&H)  drugs,  which  serve  as  official compendia for ascertaining the Quality Control (identity, purity and strength) of the ASU&H drugs, included therein, as per Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945, thereunder and compliance  to  these  quality  standards  are  mandatory  for  the  production  of  ASU&H  drug being manufactured, sell and stocked in India.

The  quality  parameters  included  in  the  Pharmacopoeias  and  Formularies  of  Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani &  Homoeopathic (ASU&H)  drugs prescribing mandatory regulatory standards have been identified to align the parameters prescribed by WHO and other major pharmacopoeias  prevalent  worldwide.  Implementation  of  these  Pharmacopoeial  standards ensures that the medicines conform to optimum quality standards in terms  of consistency, identity, purity and strength.

(e) The scheme for Certification of Pharmaceutical Product (COPP) as per World Health Organization  (WHO)  guidelines  is  extended  to  Ayurveda,  Siddha  and  Unani  (ASU) medicines.  This  scheme  is  administered  by  Central  Drugs  Standard  Control  Organization (CDSCO)  and  the  certificate  is  granted  on  the  basis  of  joint  inspection  of  the  applicant manufacturing unit by the representatives of CDSCO, Ministry of Ayush and the concerned State Licensing Authority.

Ministry  of  Ayush  has  implemented  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  Ayush  Oushadhi Gunavatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY).  The objectives of the Scheme are as under;

i. To  enhance  India's  manufacturing  capabilities  and  exports  of  traditional  medicines and health promotion products under the initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

ii. To  facilitate  adequate  infrastructural  &  technological  upgradation  and  institutional activities in public and  private sector  for  standardization,  quality  manufacturing  and analytical testing of Ayush drugs & materials.

iii. To strengthen regulatory frameworks at Central and State level for effective quality control, safety monitoring and surveillance of misleading advertisements of Ayush drugs.

iv. To  encourage  building  up  synergies,  collaborations  and  convergent  approaches  for promoting standards and quality of Ayush drugs & materials.

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