Question : AYUSH Medicines for Corona Treatment

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

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of effectiveness of Homeopathy and Ayurvedic medicines in the treatment of Corona, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether any scheme is operational to promote Homeopathy and Ayurveda, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether there is any plan by the Government to appoint Ayurveda and Homeopathy doctors in the districts of the country, State/UT-wise and district-wise; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a): Yes. Ministry of AYUSH has taken various steps to support in the management of Covid-19 by taking cognizance of strength of AYUSH system including Ayurveda and Homoeopathy; details of which are given at Annexure-I.

(b): Ministry of AYUSH is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) for development and promotion of AYUSH systems including Homoeopathy and Ayurveda through States/UTs. The National AYUSH Mission inter-alia makes the provisions for i) Co-location of AYUSH facilities including Homoeopathy and Ayurveda at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Districts Hospitals (DHs); (ii) Supply of essential Medicines/ drugs including Homoeopathy and Ayurveda medicines to AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries; (iii) Up gradation of exclusive State Government AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries ;(iv) Setting up of upto 50 bedded integrated AYUSH Hospital including Homoeopathy and Ayurveda; (v) Upgradation of State Government Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Educational Institutions including Homoeopathy and Ayurveda; (v) Setting up of new State Government AYUSH Educational Institutions including Homoeopathy and Ayurveda in the States where it is not available in Government Sector; (vi) Strengthening of State Government/State Government Co-operatives/Public Sector Undertakings Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) Pharmacies; (vii) Strengthening of State Drug Testing Laboratories for ASU&H Drugs and (viii) Support for cultivation of Medicinal Plant including processing and post-harvest management.

Also, under Central Sector Scheme for promotion of International Cooperation, (IC Scheme), the Ministry of AYUSH undertakes various measures to promote & propagate AYUSH systems of medicine including Ayurveda and Homoeopathy across the globe. Ministry of AYUSH deputes AYUSH experts to foreign countries to participate in international meetings, conferences, training programmes, seminars and on special assignment of the Government of India for promotion and propagation of AYUSH Systems. Financial assistance is also provided for presentation of AYUSH related scientific research papers in international conferences, workshops, seminar etc.

Incentives are provided to AYUSH drug manufacturers/ entrepreneurs/ AYUSH institutions, AYUSH drug and Hospitals etc. for (a) participating in International exhibitions/ conferences/ workshops/ seminars/ road shows/ trade fairs, etc. for generating awareness amongst the participating public about the AYUSH systems of medicine and; (b) registration of AYUSH products with regulatory authorities of the foreign countries USFDA/EMEA/UK-MHRA/ NHPD (Canada)/ TGA etc. There is a provision of financial support up to Rs. 1.00 Crores for strengthening of Health Centre(s)/ Institution(s) in the foreign host country.

Ministry of AYUSH through Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) offers 104 scholarships every year to the eligible foreign nationals from 99 countries for pursuing undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and Ph. D courses in premier Institutes in India. As of now, Ministry of AYUSH has signed 25 Country to Country MoUs for Cooperation in field of Traditional Medicine and Homoeopathy. 23 MoUs for undertaking Collaborative Research / Academic collaboration and 13 MoUs for setting up AYUSH Academic Chairs have been signed with foreign Universities. 33 AYUSH Information Cell have been set up in 30 countries to disseminate authentic information about AYUSH systems of Medicine.

(c) & (d): Public Health being a State subject, the appointment of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy doctors in the States/UTs and districts of the country comes under the purview of the respective State/UT Government. However, Ministry of AYUSH is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) through States/UTs. Under NAM, there is a provision of deployment of AYUSH Doctors including Ayurveda and Homoeopathy under the activities of setting up of upto 50 bedded Integrated AYUSH Hospital and Upgradation of exclusive State Government AYUSH Hospitals.