Programme launched to integrate Ayurveda with NPCDCS

New Delhi: The government through its research organisations, including CCRAS has launched a programme to integrate Ayurveda with the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), Ayush Minister Shripad Naik said.

In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Naik said the Government has set-up the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) an autonomous organisation, with the mandate to undertake research in ayurvedic system of medicines and practice.

The institutes under CCRAS are also engaged in extending health care services and research on life-style and non communicable diseases. The Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Cancer (CARIC) in Worli, Mumbai, especially, is carrying out some pioneering work in this area.

In response to another question on whether the government proposes to include Ayush under the Universal Health Insurance Scheme, Naik said, "The UHIS was launched in 2004-05 and was implemented by the four public sector insurance companies, but the scheme has now been discontinued.

"The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) was launched by the Ministry of Labour, is now implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as centrally sponsored health insurance scheme with revamped provisions. Inclusion of Ayush systems in this scheme is not spelt out," Naik said.

He added that the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has granted 200 patents for medicines/ formulations related to Ayurvedic/herbal/plant based products and processes.

"22 patents have been granted to foreign entities for medicines/formulation related to Ayurvedic /herbal /plant based products and processes. At present applications under consideration of CGPDTM is 270," he said.