Question : Promotion of AYUSH

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

(a) whether India has a rich legacy of medical wisdom carried forward from the ancient times in the form of holistic treatments like AYUSH but has been lagging behind Allopathy system over the years;

(b) if so, whether there is any proposal to promote/ expand AYUSH as cost effective systems of medicine in the country and if so, the details and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the health insurance companies functioning in the country do not offer cover for non-allopathic treatments to their customers and if so, the details and the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has taken up the matter with these companies and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the time by which AYUSH systems of medicine would likely to be covered under Health Insurance Scheme?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)
(a ) & (b): India has a rich legacy of medical wisdom carried forward from the ancient times in the form of holistic treatment like AYUSH and the legacy is further being promoted/ propagated in the country by the Government by establishment of Research Councils namely Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Council of Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), Council of Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Council of Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) &Council of Research in Siddha (CCRS) on scientific lines. The details of the Institutes/Centres, State/UT-wise under the Central Research Councils of the Ministry of AYUSH is at Annexure.

Further, AYUSH system/industries is also being promoted and propagated through various other activities like participation in various national/ international exhibitions, fairs etc. under the defined schemes of the Ministry.

(c ): Health Insurance Regulations, 2013 notified by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) have provisions for AYUSH coverage in the health insurance policies. 15 General Insurance companies and standalone health insurance companies are reported to offer more than 60 insurance products covering treatments of one or more systems of AYUSH. Five Insurance companies are reportedly offering insurance coverage to the AYUSH systems at par with the conventional medical treatment.
(d): The guidelines for reimbursement/settlement of insurance claims related to Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga and Naturopathy treatment prepared by the Ministry of AYUSH have been circulated to IRDAI, all the insurance companies and also placed in the Ministry’s website.

(e): The Ministry of AYUSH has taken up the matter of inclusion of AYUSH in the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima (RSBY) administered by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
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