In the year of 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has created a global health crisis. Not only India, the whole world has been affected by this deadly disease.  India is also fighting with Corona virus Pandemic and we have seen how the measures taken by the AYUSH Ministry so far to improve the recovery rate.  The role of the Ministry has been very important in fighting the corona virus. Besides this various initiatives were taken by the Ministry to integrate the modern and traditional systems so as to facilitate a meaningful, cross learning and collaboration between two systems. 

Ministry of AYUSH initiatives against Covid 19: Ministry of AYUSH has issued an Advisory about self-care guidelines and preventive health measures for immunity. Ministry launched a three-month campaign on “AYUSH for Immunity”. Telemedicine Practice Guideline for AYUSH has also developed by the Ministry.

Research studies in COVID 19 in AYUSH: Total 104 studies comprising prophylactic, add-on, and stand-alone, observational and pre-clinical/experimental studies are undergoing in around 135 centres in the country. Interim trends have shown promising outcomes in mitigation of COVID 19 and the AYUSH interventions have been well tolerated and no Serious Adverse Event or significant Adverse Drug Reaction reported. The Ministry also did an assessment of effectiveness, acceptance and usage of AYUSH advisories & measures in the prevention of COVID-19 through AYUSH Sanjivani Mobile appin 1.47 crores population. 85.1% respondents have reported that they have used some of the AYUSH remedy as prophylaxis / treatment of COVID 19.

New Legislations enacted- National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCIM) Act, 2020 and National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) Act, 2020: The NCIM Act, 2020 and NCH Act 2020 were enacted on 21^stSeptember, 2020, to replace the existing Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 and the Central Council of Indian Medicine established there under and Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 and the Central Council of Homoeopathy established there under, respectively. The main objectives of the said Acts inter-alia is to bring in reforms in the AYUSH education sector.

Establishment of Institute of National Importance (INI): The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Act, 2020 enacted on 22^nd September, 2020 confers the status of INI to the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) at Jamnagar by conglomerating four institutes at Gujarat Ayurved University, campus Jamnagar.

Status of Deemed to be University on NIA Jaipur: -National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Ministry of AYUSH has been declared as an Institution Deemed to be University under De-novo Category. Prime Minister has dedicated to the Nation through video conferencing the NIA, Jaipur as Deemed to be University (de-novo) on 13^th November, 2020.

Setting up of WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India: Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus gave a video message on the occasion of celebration of 5^th Ayurveda Day on 13^th November 2020 and praised the Prime Minister’s commitment to the universal coverage under Ayushman Bharat and evidence-based promotion of traditional medicines to achieve health related objectives. He announced the setting up of the Global Centre of Traditional Medicine in India. The Prime Minister thanked WHO and the DG for choosing India for the Global Centre of Traditional Medicine.

Inclusion of AYUSH practitioners in WHO Doctors population ratio: AYUSH registered medical practitioners have been included in registered medical practitioners data thus improving WHO Doctors Population Ratio.  

ICD (International Classification of Diseases) 11: The Ministry of AYUSH is actively engaging with WHO for development of Standardized Terminologies of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of Medicine and also the National AYUSH Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies Electronic(NAMASTE) Portal is being maintained successfully and the collection of Morbidity statistics through National Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Morbidity codes are being successfully undertaken through the portal. A Ministerial Level Meeting of Stake Holder Countries for Development of 2^ndModule of Traditional Medicine Chapter of ICD-11 was Jointly organized by the Ministry of AYUSH and the WHO during 25- 26 February 2020 at New Delhi. A Donor Agreement was also signed on 11^th February 2020 in this regard with WHO.

AYUSH Health &Wellness centres (AHWCs): Since April this year, under Ayushman Bharat scheme, AHWCs are being established with the help of States/UTs Governments 12500 AHWCs are to be operationalized by 2024. This year 4400 AHWCs shall be made functional.

Champion Service Sector Scheme: Ministry of AYUSH has taken initiatives for establishment of AYUSH Health Care Super Specialty Day Care / Hospital, Skill Development in AYUSH Sector and Establishment of AYUSH GRID under Champion Service Sector Scheme with the provision of Rs. 769 Cr. for three years in collaboration with Ministry of Commerce.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Women and Child Development on 20th September, 2020 in NewDelhi for controlling Malnutrition as a part of POSHAN Abhiyaan. The MoU will see some time-tested and scientifically proven Ayush-based solutions being adopted for controlling malnutrition in the country.

Establishment of Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) as a Subordinate Office by merging three existing organisations viz Pharmacopoeial Laboratory for Indian Medicine (PLIM) & Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Laboratory (HPL) both subordinate offices and Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), for enhancing the standardization outcomes of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs towards their effective regulation and quality control.

Inclusion of Sowa-Rigpa into AYUSH systems: The Government has suitably amended the Allocation of Business Rules and inter-alia included the business of formulation of policy for development and propagation of Sowa-Rigpa under the ambit of Ministry of AYUSH.

Setting up of National Research Institute of Sowa-Rigpa: The National Research Institute of Sowa-Rigpa was upgraded to “National Institute of Sowa Rigpa” in Leh, UT of Ladakh with the approval of Cabinet on 20th November, 2019.

Setting up of Central AYUSH Drugs Control Framework: In order to control quality of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani& Homoeopathy (ASU&H) Drugs, a new initiative has been taken by forming an independent vertical structure in Central Drugs Standard Control Organization with creation of 9 regulatory posts. It will enhance the enforcement mechanism of the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules made there under thus assuring availability of quality drugs to public.

Yogasana as a competitive Sport-Ministry of AYUSH has been taking numerous steps for promoting and getting Yogasana recognized as a sport at the global level. An international symposium on “Promotion of Yogasana as a competitive sport” was organised on 16.11.2019 at Mysure. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has recognised NYSF as a Federation for Yogasana as a Competitive Sport. Efforts are on to bring different foreign federations under the umbrella of IYSF and state federations under NYSF.

Setting up of four Satellite Centres of National Institutes of AYUSH

In view of 2017 National Health Policy, Ministry of AYUSH initiated the process to augment AYUSH educational facilities in India. The process to establish the Satellite Centres of existing National Institutes in the field of Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani was initiated in 2017. Further, following the direction received from Ministry of Finance, a proposal after seeking approval of the EFC is under submission to seek approval of the Cabinet. The total estimated cost of the four satellite centre including recurring expenditure of Salary and Grants-in-Aid General is Rs.1782.45 crore.

Pradhan Mantri VRIKSHAYUSH YOJANA

Pradhan Mantri VRIKSHAYUSH YOJANA was announced by Hon’ble Finance Minister on 15^th May, 2020 for the cultivation and post-harvest management of medicinal plants with the budget of Rs.4000 crore covering 10 lac hectares. This will also cover cultivation of medicinal plants in an area of 800 acres along the banks of river Ganga. The EFC Note was approved by Department of Expenditure in its meeting held on 22^nd July, 2020. The Draft Cabinet Note has been forwarded to Cabinet Secretariat and PMO on 28^th August, 2020 for approval of the Cabinet.

AYUSH Grid: In pursuance to the National Health Policy 2017 and e-governance initiative of Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH is in process of creating an IT backbone in the form of AYUSH GRID for the entire AYUSH Sector. Digitization of entire AYUSH Sector will lead to transformation of AYUSH Sector in fields of health care delivery at all levels, research, education, various health programmes, drug regulations, etc. Currently, Ministry has developed around 15 pilot IT initiatives and in process of drafting DPR of the AYUSH GRID project. It is envisaged that within 2 years entire AYUSH sector will go digital.

AYUSH- Health Management Information System (A-HMIS): It was launched on 5th Nov 2018 and currently around 90 health facilities of the Autonomous bodies under the Ministry are using A- HMIS for day to day OPD functioning.

Ministry of AYUSH is developing Indian Standards as well as International (ISO) Standards in collaboration with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): For Ayurveda, four Indian standards (IS) have been developed and two standards are accepted in program of work (PoW) of ISO. Work on nearly 25 standards including Yoga accessories and Panchakarma equipment are in pipeline. These standards incorporate all essential tenets of existing standards with inclusion of certain features for international compliance and their global acceptance. Development of such IS/ISO standards is poised to augment the domestic as well as cross-border trade of AYUSH products and services

Insurance coverage: AYUSH treatment has been covered under medical insurance with the efforts of Ministry of AYUSH. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has issued necessary notification in this regard.

NABH Accreditation: Ministry has initiated steps to get all its hospitals accredited as per National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH). So far All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi; National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur and ITRA, Jamnagar have been accredited.

ĀYURVEDAGRANTHASAMUCCAYAḤ a web portal for bringing all major classical compendia of Ayurveda on a single software platform has been developed.

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MV/SK