Why in the News?

The Ministry of Ayush recently marked its 10^th anniversary.

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• Founded in 2014, the Ministry of Ayush aims to revive ancient medical knowledge while supporting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage.
• The Ministry evolved from the Department of Indian System of Medicine & Homoeopathy, which was created in 1995 and renamed the Department of Ayush in 2003.
• "AYUSH" is an acronym for the traditional medical systems practiced in India: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.

Key Achievements of Ministry of Ayush in last decade 

• Expanding Ayush Infrastructure: India has over 755,780 registered Ayush practitioners, supported by 886 undergraduate and 251 postgraduate colleges. 
  • Additionally, three advanced National Ayush Institutes have been established to enhance education and healthcare in the Ayush sector.
• Research and Innovation: The Ayush Research Portal hosts over 43,000 studies. 
  • Key developments like AYUSH-64 and Kabasur Kudineer were introduced for COVID-19 management. 
• Economic Impact: The Ayush market has grown from USD 2.85 billion in 2014 to USD 43.4 billion in 2023, with exports increasing from USD 1.09 billion to USD 2.16 billion.
• Technology Integration: Digital platforms like Ayush Grid, e-Sanjeevani, and Ayush Telemedicine have improved healthcare access, especially in remote areas.
  • International Day of Yoga (IDY): Achieved global recognition, with 24.53 crore participants in 2024.
• National Ayush Mission (NAM): launched the Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 2014.

Steps taken by India to promote Traditional Medicines

• International Cooperation: 24 MoUs with countries and 48 institute-level MoUs and the Ayush Visa and Heal in India portal for medical tourism.
• Quality Assurance and Certifications: introduced the Ayush Mark and Ayush Premium Mark certification programs for Ayush products. 
  • Provided WHO Good Manufacturing Practices-Certified Manufacturing Units for Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products (COPP) certifications to 31 Ayurvedic drug manufacturers to facilitate international trade.
• WHO Collaboration: India signed an agreement with WHO to establish the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, with a US$ 85 million commitment. 
• Capacity Building: The Champion Sector Services Scheme (CSSS) was launched to develop skilled human resources in the AYUSH sector and promote medical value travel services.
• Education Reforms: Under the NCISM Act, 2020, the government established the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and National Commission for Homeopathy (NCH) to improve education and practice standards.
• AYURGYAN Scheme: To enhance and develop capacity in the Ayush healthcare sector.
• Policy Support: MoUs with various government departments to support infrastructure development, research, and the promotion of AYUSH practices. 
  • For ex- establishment of the Strategic Policy and Facilitation Bureau (SPFB) to facilitate investment in the AYUSH sector.

Way ahead

• Quality Control and Standardization:
  • Invest in advanced labs and testing protocols.
  • Develop systems for reporting adverse events with Ayush medicines.
  • Conduct regular post-marketing surveillance for safety and efficacy.
  • Align Ayush quality standards with global benchmarks like WHO.
• Research and Evidence-Based Practice
  • Increase funding for clinical research on Ayush therapies, focusing on chronic diseases and prevention.
  • Use local health data for large-scale epidemiological studies, with improved infrastructure and training.
• Bridging the Integration Gap
  • Develop referral pathways and collaboration protocols between Ayush and allopathic systems.
  • Integrate Ayush practitioners into primary healthcare teams and community health campaigns.
• Addressing Delays: By creating action plans for Ayush Health and Wellness Centres (AHWCs), providing training, financial incentives, and streamlining processes with technology.
• Consumer Confidence and Advocacy
  • Promote responsible advertising and educate patients on the safe use of Ayush medicines.
  • Encourage private insurance companies to cover Ayush treatments like Panchkarma where applicable.