AYUSH Ministry strengthens healthcare through education, research and outreach
New Delhi: The Ministry of Ayush (MoA) has significantly contributed to preventive, promotive, and curative healthcare through a well-established institutional framework. Regulation of education and professional practice is regulated through two statutory commissions, the "National Commission for Indian System of Medicine" for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa-Rigpa and the “National Commission for Homoeopathy".
Further, the MoA has established 12 National-level teaching Institutes that have made significant contributions in the medical field by integrating quality education, clinical services, and outreach. They offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses along with specialty training programs.
They provide OPD/IPD (Outpatient Department/ Inpatient Department)services through NABH/NABL (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers/ National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited hospitals and organize health camps, awareness drives, and community-based initiatives across the country.
Scientific validation and development of Ayush systems are supported by five autonomous research councils viz. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), and Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN).
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CCRAS, CCRUM and CCRH provide OPD and IPD services and undertake outreach programmes through their extensive networks- 30 institutes under CCRAS, 21 under CCRUM, and 27 units with 6 treatment centres under CCRH. These initiatives include the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan, Tribal Health Care, school health programmes, and mobile clinical research, significantly enhancing the reach and accessibility of Ayush healthcare across the country. Additionally, the CCRS delivers healthcare through 9 peripheral institutes, while the CCRYN operates 8 institutes, 10 wellness centres, and 10 Mind-Body Intervention centres, promoting holistic health services nationwide.
Ayush also administers one Public Sector Undertaking Indian Medicines Pharmaceuticals Corporation Limited (IMPCL) for manufacturing quality-assured Ayush Medicines and one subordinate office, the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, responsible for drug standardization and also serves as a central apex laboratory.
Ministry of Ayush is also implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments and supporting their efforts to provide Ayush treatment facility in the country by providing financial assistance to them under different activities as per the provision of NAM guidelines against their submitted State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs).
The matters related to ASU& H (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy) drugs are governed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 made thereunder.
Ministry of Ayush signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to work together for the promotion of Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. Ministry of Ayush also organized Medical Value Travel Summits for Western and Southern zone of the Country with the aim of strengthening India's Position in Medical Value Travel. The summit fostered collaboration between state Governments, Industry leaders, and healthcare providers to expand Ayush-based Medical Value Travel.
The Government has introduced a separate category of Ayush Visa on 27th July, 2023 for foreigners and their attendants (other than a Pakistani national) visiting India for availing treatment under Ayush systems of medicine.
The Medical and Ayush Visa Portal, governed by Ministry of Home Affairs is designed to streamline and regulate the entry of legitimate foreign patients, ensuring that only authorized hospitals invite genuine patients for treatment through pre-validated Medical Visas. This portal allows registered hospitals/ wellness centres to generate Medical Visa Invitation Letters and Extension Letters for Medical Visa, Medical Attendant Visa, and Ayush Attendant Visa. Hospitals/wellness centres operating in India can register on this portal and log in using the login ID and password provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The portal can be accessed at the following URL: https://indianfrro.gov.in/frro/medicalvaluetravel.
The Ministry of Ayush is undertaking several initiatives to strengthen and train a skilled workforce in the Ayush sector through structured capacity-building and training programs, as well as to meet the growing need of Ayush services at domestic as well as international level. The details of the initiatives are enclosed at Annexure I.
ANNEXURE I
Details of Initiatives undertaken by Ministry of Ayush to train skilled workforce for Ayush field and steps being taken to meet the growing demand of Ayush services at domestic and international level:
a. The Ministry of Ayush is implementing a Central Sector Scheme titled 'Ayurgyan' since 2021-22, which includes a key component on Capacity Building and Continuing Medical Education in Ayush. Under this component, support is extended to eligible organizations across the country to conduct training and capacity-building programs aimed at encouraging Ayush personnel to undergo need-based professional training and to bridge knowledge gaps in clinical and technical areas.
b. Ministry of Ayush developed the central sector scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for Ayush (IC Scheme). Under this scheme, the Ministry provides support to Indian Ayush drug Manufacturers/ Ayush Service providers to give boost to the export of Ayush products and services. The scheme facilitates the International promotion, development and recognition of Ayush systems of medicine; fosters interaction among stakeholders; and promotes market development of Ayush at international level. Additionally, the scheme supports academics and research promotion through the establishment of Ayush Academic Chairs in foreign countries and organization of training workshop/symposiums aimed at strengthening awareness and interest in Ayush Systems of Medicine at international level.
c. CCRAS is actively contributing to capacity building in the field of Ayush research through various initiatives such as:
1. SPARK (Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken) to promote research aptitude among undergraduate Ayurveda students;
2. PG Star (Scheme for Training in Ayurveda Research for Post-Graduate Scholars) primarily aimed at promoting good quality research in Ayurveda students pursuing post-graduation courses as well as to improve visibility and accessibility of their research work to larger research audience.;
3. Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Fellowship Programs to support advanced academic research;
4. PRAYATNA aimed at cultivating and enhancing scientific writing skills among postgraduate (PG) and doctoral (PhD) scholars in the field of Ayurveda, and;
5. ARMS (Ayurveda Research Methodology and Statistics) training, aimed at building the foundation in Research Methodology and Biostatics for Ayurveda Scholars.
d. To enhance the capacity of Ayush physicians, Ayush vertical under Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has conducted National Level Master Training in collaboration with Central Health Education Bureau (CHEB), DGHS on Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) for all States/UTs during 13-17 May 2024, ensuring their effective dissemination to end users.
e. Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) on behalf of Ministry of Ayush is imparting training to the Drug Regulatory Authorities, State Drug Testing Laboratories (Drug Analysts), etc. on laboratory techniques and methods essential for ensuring the quality of ASU&H (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy) drugs.
f. In addition, regular training programs, workshops, and seminars are organized at various National Ayush Institutes and Research Councils to upgrade the knowledge and skills of Ayush professionals across different domains.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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