Mainstreaming of Ayush is one of the core strategies under National Health Mission (NHM) which seeks to provide accessible, affordable and quality health care to the population.

To promote traditional systems of medicines and wellness in the country, Government of India has adopted a strategy to integrate Ayush systems with the primary healthcare facilities through the co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and District Hospitals (DHs). This approach enables patients to choose from different systems of medicine under a single-window service delivery mechanism. The engagement of Ayush doctors/ paramedics and their training is being supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under National Health Mission (NHM), while the support for Ayush infrastructure, equipment/ furniture and medicines is being provided by the Ministry of Ayush under National Ayush Mission (NAM), as shared responsibilities. As on 30.12.2025 (MIS-NHM), NHM supports co-location of AYUSH services in health facilities such as PHCs (6,302), CHCs (3,191), DHs (475) and other health facilities (3,281) by allocating AYUSH services in 13,249 health facilities. Also, a total of 25,322 AYUSH doctors and 5,666 AYUSH paramedics have been deployed in the States/UTs with NRHM funding support.

Further, the Ministry of Ayush is adopting a rational approach along with multiple initiatives for the promotion and institutional expansion of each Ayush system of medicine according to its respective strengths, with a view to facilitating their integration with modern medicine. Some of the major initiatives are as follows:

1. The Ayush Vertical under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), established by Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), serves as a dedicated institutional mechanism for planning, monitoring and supervising Ayush-specific public health programmes. This vertical provides technical support to both Ministries in developing strategies for public health, healthcare, Ayush education and training.
2. The Ministry of Ayush and MoH&FW have jointly established Integrated Ayush Departments in Central Government Hospitals to promote integrative healthcare. As part of this initiative, the Department of Integrative Medicine has been established and is operational at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi.
3. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has developed the Ayush Module–Internship Electives for MBBS students in Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. Further, under Regulation 10(7) of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations, 2022, modern advances may constitute up to 40 per cent of the Ayurveda teaching curriculum. The Homoeopathy Education Board under the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) has also introduced several initiatives, including early clinical exposure, electives, faculty development programmes, foundation programmes, finishing programmes and new subjects such as Pharmacology and Psychology.
4. Details of the initiatives taken by the Research Councils and National Institutes under the Ministry of Ayush for the integration of Ayush with the contemporary medical system are given in the Annexure.

Ministry of Ayush, Government of India has set up Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN) and Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM). These institutes are autonomous organizations under Ministry of Ayush for research in Ayurveda, Siddha, Homoeopathy, Yoga & Naturopathy and Unani, respectively and conducting different research activities through their peripheral institutes available in different parts of the country and working towards the scientific validation in the concerned system of medicines through clinical research, drug research, medicinal plants research, fundamental research, literary research and documentation, extending healthcare services and promotion of Ayush system.

Quality control of Ayush medicines is ensured through exclusive regulatory provisions under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs Rules, 1945 for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani, and Homoeopathy (ASSU&H) drugs. 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 ASSU&H drugs respectively and also to follow the quality standards of drugs as prescribed in the respective pharmacopoeia.

Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), sub-ordinate organization under Ministry of Ayush, lays down the formulary specifications and pharmacopoeia standards for ASSU&H drugs which serves as official compendia for ascertaining the quality (identity, purity and strength) of the ASSU&H drugs. As per the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules there under, the compliance to this quality standards are mandatory for manufacturing of ASSU&H drugs. PCIM&H also acts as the Appellate Drugs testing Laboratory for testing or analysis of ASSU&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 ASSU drugs. As on date, 118 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 ASU drugs and raw materials for legal samples.

Ministry of Ayush has implemented a Central Sector Scheme Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY), under which support is provided for strengthening and up-gradation of Ayush Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories to achieve higher standards. Further, under its second component, i.e. Pharmacovigilance of ASU&H drugs including surveillance of misleading advertisements, the program keep vigilance over Ayush drugs and reduce the instances of misleading advertisements. This program has established a three-tier network of pharmacovigilance centers distributed throughout the country with one National Pharmacovigilance Coordination Centre (NPvCC), 05-Intermediary Pharmacovigilance Centers (IPvC) & 97 Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centers (PPvC).

Further to strengthen the pharmacovigilance system for Ayush drugs, Ministry of Ayush has launched an IT enabled online portal “Ayush Suraksha” on 30th May 2025. Further, an Ayush vertical has been created in Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to strengthen regulatory measures ensuring safety and quality of Ayush drugs. Furthermore, CDSCO issues WHO Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (WHO-CoPP) to Ayush drugs having compliance to such standards.

The main objectives of operationalization of AAMs (Ayush) are to establish a holistic wellness model based on Ayush principles and practices, to empower masses for self-care to reduce disease burden, out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) and to provide informed choice to the needy public in the rural areas of the country. As reported by the States/UTs, footfall of the beneficiaries has been increased in the dispensaries after converting them into AAM (Ayush), as various activities & services like identification of Prakriti, Yoga, use of medicinal plants, healthy living practices, basic OPD interventions etc. are being provided. Further, under NAM, State/UT Governments are also being supported for implementation of eight structured Ayush Public Health Programmes in different parts of the country including vulnerable populations in rural and underserved areas to address the problem of masses as per the potentials of Ayush health care systems in providing preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative health care as standalone or add on to conventional interventions.

Ministry of Ayush has prepared the Ayush Policy Roadmap as a strategic framework for the development and integration of India's traditional systems of healthcare. Developed through extensive consultations and evidence-based deliberations, it outlines key policy priorities to strengthen the Ayush sector as an integral part of the country's healthcare system and national development.

Ministry of Ayush has been steadily emerging across various sectors, including healthcare, research, education, and industry, reflecting increased national and global interest in traditional systems of medicine. In this evolving landscape, a clear and coherent vision is essential to ensure structured growth and strategic planning. With this perspective, the Ayush Policy Roadmap has been envisioned as a vital framework to guide the future of Ayush in a systematic, evidence-based, and impact-driven manner.

The roadmap outlines a comprehensive framework covering the entire Ayush ecosystem, including infrastructure, education, training and human resource development, health service delivery, research and development, the manufacturing sector and drug regulation, quality raw materials including medicinal plants, international cooperation and propagation, contribution to the economy, and policy reforms.

Annexure

Details of initiatives taken by the Ministry of Ayush through its Research councils and National Institutes

 

This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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