Ministry of Ayush is implementing one Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely National Ayush Mission and six Central Sector Schemes namely Information, Education and Communication, Promotion of International Cooperation, Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants, Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evum Uttapadan Sanvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY), Ayurswasthaya Yojana and Ayurgyan. By and large, the budget allocation is adequate.
The steps taken by the Ministry of Ayush for the standardization of national institutes, research projects and Ayush medicines are as follows :-
- Standardization of National Institutes: Seven major National Institutes namely Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), All Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Morarji National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) and National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH) are accredited from National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH).
- Standardisation of Research Projects: Under the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evum Uttapadan Sanvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY), Central Sector Scheme under Ministry of Ayush, facilities are provided towards infrastructural & technological upgradation and institutional activities in public and private sector for standardization, quality manufacturing and analytical testing of Ayush drugs & materials. AYURGYAN Scheme supports Research & Innovation in Ayush by Providing Extra Mural Research activity and Education by providing academic activates, training and capacity building etc. Under its two components namely Research & Innovation in Ayush (R&I) and Ayurveda Biology Integrated Health Research (ABIHR), financial assistance is provided to the eligible Organizations/ Institutions across the county as per the provision contained in the scheme guidelines for conducting Research in Ayush including standardization of Ayush medicines. Further, under Ayush and Public Health component of the Ayurswasthya Yojana, financial assistance has been provided to several organizations and institutes for carrying out 25 projects. Similarly, under the CoE component, funding has been extended to 25 research projects
- Standardization of Ayush Medicine: The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), a subordinate office of Ministry of Ayush, lays down the Formulary specifications and Pharmacopoeial Standards for ASU&H drugs, which serve as official compendia for ascertaining the Quality Control (identity, purity and strength) of the Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani & Homoeopathic (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 across India. Implementation of these pharmacopoeial standards ensures that the medicines conform to optimum quality standards in terms of identity, purity and strength. PCIM&H also act as an appellate drug testing laboratory receives the samples from Govt. agencies as per Drugs & Cosmetics Act & Rules there under for ascertaining their quality.
The Government of India has adopted a strategy of co-locating Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), thereby providing patients with access to different systems of medicine under a single platform.
The engagement and training of Ayush doctors/paramedical staff is supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under the National Health Mission (NHM). Support for Ayush infrastructure, equipment/furniture, and Essential Ayush medicines is provided by the Ministry of Ayush under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), as part of shared responsibilities between the two Ministries.
This information was given by the Minister of State (IC) for Ayush Shri Pratap Rao Jadhav in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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