Lok Sabha Question No. 2262 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: Promotion of AYUSH System of Medicine
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Rajesh Verma, Smt. Shambhavi, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2262 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025

## Promotion of AYUSH System of Medicine

2262. Smt. Shambhavi:

Shri Rajesh Verma:

Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:

Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:

Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote the AYUSH systems of medicine across the country, particularly under the National AYUSH Mission;

(b)  whether  any  financial  assistance  has  been  allocated  for  the  establishment  of AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres and if so, the total amount approved thereof;

(c) the manner in which the Government plans to integrate AYUSH treatments into mainstream  healthcare,  particularly  through  initiatives  like  the  Ayushman  Bharat scheme;

(d) whether there is any collaborations with international institutions to enhance the global reach of AYUSH systems and if so, the details of such partnerships; and

(e)  the  measures  being  implemented  to  ensure  quality  control  and  regulation  of AYUSH medicines and practitioners in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a) &  (b)  Under  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  National  Ayush  Mission  (NAM), Ministry  of  Ayush  is  supporting  the  efforts  of  State/  UT  Governments  for  overall development  &  promotion  of  Ayush  systems  in  the  country  by  providing  financial assistance to them under different activities as per the proposals received through their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per provisions of NAM guideline. NAM interalia makes provision for the following activities: -

(i)  Operationalization  of  Ayushman  Arogya  Mandir  (Ayush)  by  upgrading existing Ayush Dispensaries and Sub Health Centers.

(ii) Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).

(iii) Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals.

(iv)  Upgradation  of  existing  Government/Panchayat/Government  aided  Ayush Dispensaries/Construction  of  building  for  existing  Ayush  Dispensary  (Rented/ dilapidated  accommodation)/  Construction  of  building  to  establish  new  Ayush Dispensary in the area where there are no Ayush facilities available.

(v) Setting up of 50/30/10 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals.

(vi)  Supply  of  essential  drugs  to  Government  Ayush  Hospitals,  Government Dispensaries  and  Government/Government  aided  Teaching  Institutional  Ayush Hospitals.

(vii) Ayush Public Health Programmes.

(viii)  Establishment  of  new  Ayush  colleges  in  the  States  where  availability  of Ayush teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector.

(ix) Infrastructural development of Ayush Under-Graduate Institutions and Ayush Post-Graduate Institutions/ add on PG/ Pharmacy /Para-Medical Courses.

Under  NAM,  as  per  proposal  received  from  State/UT  Governments,  central share of Rs. 5670.82 Crore has been released to them for different approved activities including Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush).

Further, the Ministry of Ayush also implements a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush to create awareness regarding Ayush Systems of Medicine. This scheme aims to reach out to all  sections  of  the  population  across  the  country  and  under  this  Scheme,  Ministry organizes  National/State  level  Arogya  Fairs,  Yoga  Fests/Utsavs,  Ayurveda  Parvs, Celebrate Important Days of Ayush Systems including Ayurveda day, Participate in Health  Fairs/  Melas  &  Exhibitions,  Provide  financial  assistance  for  organizing seminars, workshops, conferences and conduct multimedia campaigns etc.

(c)  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 being provided by the Ministry of Ayush under National Ayush Mission (NAM) as shared responsibilities.  Further,  under  Ayushman  Bharat Scheme, Ayushman  Arogya  Mandirs which have been developed by Health Department by upgrading Health Sub Centres and Ayush doctors have been deployed as  Community  Health  Officers,  provision  has  been  made  for  providing  Ayush treatment to the beneficiaries visiting the facilities.

(d) Yes, The 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; 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 including Ayurveda.

Under  the  CSS  IC  Scheme  25  Country  to  Country  Memorandum  of Understandins  (MoUs),  15  Ayush  Chair  MoUs  and 52  Institute  to  Institute  level MoUs have been signed.

(e)  The  Drugs  &  Cosmetics  Act,  1940  and  Drugs  Rules,  1945  have  exclusive regulatory provisions for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani, and Homoeopathy drugs.  Rule  158-B  and  Rule  85  (A  to  I)  of  the  Drugs  Rules,  1945  provides  the regulatory  guidelines  for  issue  of  license  to  manufacture  Ayurvedic,  Siddha,  SowaRigpa,  Unani (ASSU) and Homoeopathy medicines respectively. It is mandatory for the manufacturers to adhere to the prescribed requirements for licensing of manufacturing units &  medicines including proof of safety &  effectiveness, compliance  with  the  Good  Manufacturing  Practices  (GMP)  as  per  Schedule  T  & Schedule  M-I  of  the  Drugs  Rules,  1945  for  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  drugs  and Homoeopathy drugs respectively and also to follow the quality standards of drugs as prescribed in the respective pharmacopoeia.

Drug Inspectors collect medicine samples regularly from manufacturing firms or  sale  shops  within  their  jurisdiction  and  send  them  to  Drug  Testing  Laboratory under Drug Control department for quality testing and if any sample is found to be 'Not of Standard Quality', appropriate action is initiated such as preventing the sale of the  products  from  the  market  and  appropriate  legal  actions  as  per  Drugs  and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules made thereunder

Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H),  subordinate  office  under  Ministry  of  Ayush  lays  down  the  formulary specifications  and  pharmacopoeial  standards  for  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs which serves as official compendia for ascertaining the quality (identity, purity and strength) of the ASU&H drugs.

PCIM&H also acts as the Central Drugs Laboratory for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy  for  the  purpose  of  testing  or  analysis  of  ASU&H  Drugs.  Further,  it imparts  Capacity  Building  Trainings  at  regular  interval  for  standardization/quality control/  testing  or  analysis  of  ASU&H  drugs  to  Drug  Regulatory  Authorities,  State Drug Testing Laboratories (Drug Analyst) and other stakeholders on quality control of ASU&H drugs on laboratory techniques and methods used to maintain the quality of ASU&H drugs.

Drug Testing Laboratories are being recognized under Rule 160 A to J of the Drugs Rules, 1945 for carrying out such tests of identity, purity, quality and strength of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs. As on date, 108 private  laboratories  are  approved  or  licensed  under  the  provisions  of  Drugs  Rules,

1945 for manufacturers. 34 Drug Testing Laboratories of State/UTs are testing quality of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and raw materials for legal samples.

Ministry of Ayush has implemented Central Sector Scheme Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam  Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY)  to  support Ayush Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories to achieve higher standards under one of the components. The total financial allocation to this scheme is Rs. 122.00 crores for five years.

Further  Ministry  of  Ayush  encourages  following  certifications  of  Ayush products as per details below:-

- An Ayush vertical has been created in Central Drugs Standard Control Organization  (CDSCO)  to  strengthen  regulatory  measures  ensuring  safety  and quality of Ayush drugs. Further, CDSCO issues WHO Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (WHO-CoPP) to Ayush drugs having compliance to such standards.
- Quality Certifications Scheme implemented by the Quality Council of India (QCI) for grant of AYUSH standard and premium mark to Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani products  on  the  basis  of  third-party  evaluation  of  quality  in  accordance  with  the status of compliance to domestic and international standards.

*****