3590 hospitals, 607 medical colleges and 25,732 Dispensaries provide AYUSH medical treatment: Naik

Replying to supplementary question in the Parliament , Shri Shripad Naik said that the AYUSH Ministry has set up National Institutes and Research Centres in a few States which will be extended to other states gradually. Post Graduate courses in AYUSH medicine have been started in these National institutes to meet the demand for good quality professionals, the Minister explained. Shri Shripad Naik also said that the AYUSH Ministry is working with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to provide AYUSH Medicines at the 3000 Government medical stores across the country.

A total of 3590 hospitals providing AYUSH medical treatment in the country were functional as on 01.04.2016. These include 2820 hospitals of Ayurveda, 256 of Unani, 273 Siddha hospitals, 7 of Yoga, 30 of Naturopathy and 203 homoeopathy hospitals. The number of AYUSH dispensaries in the country as on 01.04.2016 were 25,732. The number of AYUSH registered practitioners in the country as on 01.01.2016 were 7,71,468.

The Central Government, through Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM), extends support for promotion of AYUSH healthcare to the States/UTs for co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs) for development of infrastructure, purchase of equipment & furniture and supply of essential AYUSH medicines. NAM also extends support for development of AYUSH educational institution, Quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU & H) drugs and Medicinal Plants. Further, under National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided to States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare systems including for mainstreaming of AYUSH based on the requirements posed by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs). These supports also include support for engagement of AYUSH doctors/paramedics in public health facilities.

Total of 607 AYUSH Medical Colleges in the country at present

There are 607 (341 Ayurveda, 52 Unani, 10 Siddha and 204 Homoeopathy) AYUSH Medical colleges functional at present in the country. The Central Government has supported AYUSH medical colleges under Central Sector Scheme of Public Health Initiatives (PHI) as well as under the Central Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) through the State/UT Governments. The Government has received 163 proposals (108 Ayurveda, 01 Siddha, 09 Unani and 45 Homoeopathy) from State/UT Governments as well as private applicants seeking permission of Central Government for opening of AYUSH Medical Colleges in the year 2016-17. Out of 163 proposals, 159 proposals (105 Ayurveda, 01 Siddha, 08 Unani and 45 Homoeopathy) have been forwarded to the Central Regulatory Councils and 04 proposals (03 Ayurveda and 01 Unani) have been returned back to the applicants because the proposals have not been received as per the notified Regulations.

The AYUSH Minister disclosed that that a total amount of Rs. 161.9 lakhs has been released in the year 2015-16 to AYUSH Colleges under Public Health Initiatives (PHI) Schemes and a total of Rs. 90.8 lakhs released in the year 2016-17 i.e. a total of 252.7 has been released under PHI Schemes.

Under the National AYUSH Mission, a total of Rs. 7579.2 lakhs have been released to AYUSH Colleges from 2014-15 to till date.