AYUSH
Promotion of AYUSH System of Medicine
Posted On:
01 AUG 2025 4:01PM by PIB Delhi
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 inter- alia makes provision for the following activities: -
-
- Operationalization of Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) by upgrading existing Ayush Dispensaries and Sub Health Centers.
- Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).
- Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals.
- 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.
- Setting up of 50/30/10 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals.
- Supply of essential drugs to Government Ayush Hospitals, Government Dispensaries and Government/Government aided Teaching Institutional Ayush Hospitals.
- Ayush Public Health Programmes.
- Establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of Ayush teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector.
- 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.
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.
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.
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, Sowa- Rigpa, 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.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
***
MV/GS
(Release ID: 2151296)