Ministry of AYUSH is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) through Sate/UT Governments and providing financial assistance to them as per the proposals submitted through their respective State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs). Under NAM States/UTs are implementing different activities like supply of essential drugs/Medicines to the patients, Public Health Outreach Activity, School Health Programme, AYUSH Gram etc. to promote holistic treatment under AYUSH so as to improve the general health and immunity. Further, Mission inter-alia makes provision for following activities:

• Co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).
• Supply of Essential drugs to AYUSH hospitals and Dispensaries.
• Up gradation of exclusive State Government AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries.
• Setting up of up to 50 bedded integrated AYUSH Hospital.
• Upgradation of State Government Educational Institutions.
• Setting up of new State Government AYUSH Educational Institutions in the State where it is not available.
• Strengthening of State Government/ Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories (DTL).
• Cultivation and Promotion of Medicinal Plants.
• Upgradation of 12,500 Health facilities (10,000 AYUSH Dispensaries and 2500 Health sub-centres) into AYUSH Health and Wellness Centre under the Ayushman Bharat.

The Ministry of AYUSH also promotes holistic treatment through its research councils and national institutes by undertaking various research activities, public health programs such as National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS); Participation in Arogya exhibitions/health melas; Outreach programs such as Swasthya Rakshan Program (SRP), Ayurveda Mobile Health Care Program under Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) Research Program, Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP); Yoga therapy centres in Modern Medical hospitals.

The research councils and national institutes under the Ministry of AYUSH undertake scientific research in their respective systems of medicine. Clinical Research has been undertaken by following Good Clinical Practice guidelines and bio-medical ethical guidelines. Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) has undertaken more than 190 clinical studies. The objectives of these studies are to assess the usefulness of homoeopathic medicines in different disease which includes acute and chronic conditions. The outcomes of these studies are published in national and international Peer reviewed journals on regular basis.

Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) is conducting Clinical trials for validation of Classical Ayurvedic formulations and for new Ayurvedic drug development adopting prevalent guidelines such as Good Clinical Practices Guidelines for ASU drugs (GCP-ASU), Ministry of AYUSH and Ethical guidelines for Bio-Medical Research (ICMR), WHO guidelines for traditional medicines etc. as per requirement. So far, CCRAS has generated clinical safety and efficacy on around 92 classical formulations on 40 disease conditions.

Ministry of AYUSH is presently implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM).  Under ‘Medicinal Plants’ component of the NAM scheme, Ministry is supporting market driven cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants in identified cluster/zones within selected districts of States.  State/UT Governments may avail the financial assistance for cultivation of medicinal plants by projecting the proposal in their respective SAAPs.  As per the scheme guidelines, the support is provided for:

• (i) Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer’s land.
• (ii) Establishment of nurseries with backward linkages for raising and supply of quality planting material.
• (iii) Post-harvest management with forward linkages.
• (iv) Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.

Under this scheme, subsidy @30%, 50% and 75% of cost of its cultivation is provided for cultivation of 140 prioritized medicinal plants on farmer’s land.

Further under the Information Education and Communication (IEC) component of the Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants, the Ministry is promoting medicinal plants activities viz. cultivation technologies, gatherers, supply chain intermediaries, manufacturing, proper handling of raw material, trade etc.

Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine has acquired land in Faridabad, Haryana for the establishment of National Research Institute of Unani Medicine (NRIUM) for Non-communicable Diseases.         

Under NAM, Ministry of AYUSH is supporting one of the important activitiesi.e., AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres. The objectives of the establishment of AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres are as under:

• To Provide Comprehensive Primary Healthcare through AYUSH using team-based approach
• To establish a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices focusing on preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative healthcare by establishing integration with existing healthcare system.
• To provide informed choice to the needy public by making AYUSH Services available.

 As of now 4436 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres have been supported under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) in the 32 States/UTs.

Also, Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has implemented and executed NPCDCS programme (National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke) for health promotion, prevention and management of Non-communicable diseases or Lifestyle related disorders through its three research organizations, namely, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) in districts namely Bhilwara (Rajasthan), Surendranagar (Gujarat), Gaya (Bihar), Darjeeling (West Bengal), Krishna (Andhra Pradesh), Sambalpur (Odisha), Nasik (Maharashtra) and Lakhimpur Kheri (UP).

The Minister of State (The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), Sh. Kiren Rijiju (Additional Charge) stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.

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MV/SJ