Question : Traditional System of Medicine

Will the Minister of AYURVEDA, YOGA AND NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

(a) whether any steps are being taken by the Government to encourage traditional system of medicine;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether chronic diseases like cancer and heart ailments can be cured by using traditional system of medicines, if so, the details thereof and the efforts being made by the Government to popularize these medicines to treat lifestyle related diseases;

(d) whether the Government have established state-of-the-art laboratories for advance research in Ayurveda medicines and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether cases have been registered against AYUSH practitioners due to death of patients, if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)
(a) & (b): Yes. A Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information Education and Communication (IEC) in AYUSH has been devised by the Ministry of AYUSH for this purpose. Under this Scheme, the Ministry of AYUSH takes up initiatives to create awareness about and to promote AYUSH systems of medicine. These initiatives include organizing Arogya Fairs, Melas, Conferences, Exhibitions, Seminars, Workshops, Symposium and Ayurveda Parvs. The IEC Scheme also supports undertaking publicity campaigns through electronic media, print media and social media amongst the citizens in the country, for encouraging AYUSH Systems including traditional Indian systems of medicine.
Contd……..
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The Ministry also observes days dedicated to AYUSH Systems of Medicine viz. International Day of Yoga, Ayurveda Day, Unani Day, Siddha Day, Naturopathy Day, Homoeopathy Day etc. to create awareness about the benefits of the respective AYUSH system of medicine.

(c): Traditional systems of medicines do not offer any guaranteed cure for cancer and heart ailments. However various practices and therapies like Yoga and Panchakarma are proven to be immensely useful in the management of various conditions of cancer and heart ailments.

Public Health activities including treatment of lifestyle diseases fall under the purview of State/UT governments. However, some benchmark efforts in these matters are taken up at the Central level also. The Ministry of AYUSH has set-up five autonomous Research Councils, namely, 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 and Naturopathy (CCRYN) as apex bodies for formulation, coordination, development and promotion of research activities in AYUSH (including traditional medicine) systems for various diseases, and research into treatment of lifestyle diseases also figure in these activities. Further, under the ambit of the IEC Scheme, activities to popularise AYUSH medicines for the treatment of lifestyle diseases are also taken up.

(d): Yes. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under the Ministry of AYUSHhas set up 4 modern laboratories for advance research in Ayurveda, with details as given in Annexure.

(e) & (f): No information in this matter is maintained by the Ministry as subjects like public health and related matters come under the purview of governments of States and UTs.
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