AYUSH Ministry collaborates with ICMR, AIIMS to boost Integrative Health Research

New Delhi: To promote scientific research in Ayush systems, the Ministry of Ayush has established independent apex research Councils namely: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS); Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM); Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH); Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) and Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN).

The core research activities of these Councils are in the areas of Clinical Research, Medicinal Plant Research (Medico-ethno botanical Survey, Pharmacognosy and Cultivation), Drug Standardization, Pharmacological Research and Literary Research & Documentation Programme. Collaborative studies are also conducted with various universities, hospitals and institutes.

The extension activities comprise of Health care services through Out–Patient Departments (OPDs) and In-Patient Departments (IPDs), Special clinics for Geriatric Health care and outreach activities - Tribal Health Care Research Programme (THCRP), Swasthya Rakshan Programme, Ayurveda Mobile Health Care Programme under Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP).

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Ministry of Ayush has implemented the Central Sector Scheme namely, “AYURGYAN” Scheme. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to Medical, scientific and Research & Development institution, university/ institutional department in Government & Private Sector for encouraging research, innovation and development in priority areas of Ayush.

The number of research studies undertaken and published by the Councils is as follows:

(1) The number of the research studies undertaken and published by Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) in the last three years is 189 and 522 respectively.

(2) The number of the research studies undertaken and published by Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) in the last three years is 104 and 484 respectively.

(3) The number of the research studies undertaken and published by Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) in the last three years is 184 and 88 respectively.

(4) The number of the research studies undertaken and published by Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) in the last three years is 32 and 195 respectively.

(5) The number of the research studies undertaken and published by Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN) in the last three years is 63.

Ministry of Ayush is working to integrate Ayush with evidence-based medical practices. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and CCRAS has set up Ayush-ICMR Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research (AI-ACIHR), at AIIMS to conduct research on identified areas focusing on integrative healthcare under Extra Mural research Scheme of ICMR. Under this program four research areas in four AIIMS have been identified, which are as follows:

AIIMS Delhi:

i. Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Gastro-intestinal Disorders

ii. Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Women and Child Health

AIIMS- Jodhpur: Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Geriatric Health

AIIMS Nagpur: Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Cancer Care

AIIMS Rishikesh: Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Geriatric Health.

CCRUM has taken various steps to integrate Unani with evidence –based medical practices. The Council has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with different academic and scientific organizations like All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER), & Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, Anna University, Chennai, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar etc.

CCRS is running Integrated Siddha OPD for cancer at All India Institute of Ayurveda campus, New Delhi and Siddha Clinical Research Unit, Safdarjung, New Delhi, for aiding the Palliative care of cancer patients through Siddha system.

CCRH is working towards integration of Homoeopathy with mainstream healthcare by undertaking research in collaboration and cooperation in the field of integrative medicine with AIIMS, Delhi, AIIMS, Jhajjar, Haryana and other State Government and Private Homoeopathic Medical Colleges. The Council is providing homoeopathy treatment in allopathic hospitals on various clinical conditions at the following places:

Safdarjung Hospital (New Delhi).

Lady Hardinge Medical College & Hospital (New Delhi).

Delhi Cantonment General Hospital (New Delhi).

Clinical trial Unit, at BRD Medical College and Hospital, Gorakhpur (UP).

Civil Hospital, Aizwal, Mizoram.

District hospital, Dimapur, Nagaland.

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

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