Question : AYUSH Institutions

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

(a) the estimated percentage of population dependent on AYUSH system and the number of AYUSH institutes in the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether there is any proposal to set up new norms of production to ensure the quality of ayurvedic products;

(c) the steps taken to preserve the traditional knowledge of AYUSH, manuscripts, ancient treatises and other sources of the country; and

(d) the steps being taken with regard to the digitisation of rare treatise and patent of traditional medicines?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)
(a): As per key indicators of the NSSO 71st round on Social Consumption on Health in India conducted during January- June 2014, 5 to 7 percent usage of ‘other’ including AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has been reported both in rural and urban area. The number of AYUSH institutes in the country, State/UT-wise under Ministry of AYUSH is given at Annexure I & II.
(b): The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules thereunder provide the norms for manufacturing and quality control of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathic drugs as per the guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The Quality Control mechanism of Ayurvedic and other such products is an evolving process and the last amendment in the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945 was done on 12th August, 2016 in respect of the Shelf Life of the Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs.
(c) & (d): Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is a pioneering Indian initiative to prevent exploitation and to protect Indian traditional knowledge from wrongful patents mainly at International Patent Offices. India’s rich and time-tested traditional medicinal knowledge which exists in languages such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Tamil etc. is neither accessible nor comprehensible for patent examiners at the international patent offices. TKDL contains Indian traditional medicine knowledge available in public domain and pertains to classical/ traditional books related to Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha in a digitized format and is available in five international languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese)”.