The Ministry of AYUSH recently completed 10 years of its establishment. On this occasion, the Ministry shared its achievements and challenges in the development and promotion of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy systems of medicine.
Key Points
Establishment and objectives of the Ministry of AYUSH
- Establishment year: 2014
- Objective: Revival of ancient medical systems and infusion of new energy in the health sector.
- Meaning of AYUSH: Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
History
- 1995: It was created as the Department of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy.
- 2003: Renamed as the Department of AYUSH.
- 2014: Establishment of the Ministry of AYUSH.
Achievements of the Ministry of AYUSH
Expansion of AYUSH infrastructure
- 3,844 AYUSH hospitals.
- 3 state-of-the-art satellite centres of National Institute of AYUSH in Delhi, Goa and Ghaziabad.
- Technological integration: Digital initiatives like AYUSH Grid, e-Sanjeevani telemedicine brought quality healthcare to remote areas.
Global reach
- Ayurveda agreement between India and Malaysia.
- Initiatives like Donor Agreement and AYUSH Visa.
- Establishment of WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar.
- 21 June (Summer Solstice) declared as International Yoga Day.
Economic impact
- AYUSH market in 2014: $2.85 billion.
- In 2023: $43.4 billion.
- Exports of AYUSH products doubled since 2014 ($1.09B → $2.16B).
Key achievements under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) from 2014-15 to 2023-24
- Support to 167 units for setting up composite AYUSH hospitals.
- Upgradation of 416 AYUSH hospitals and 5036 AYUSH dispensaries.
- Support for medicines and other ancillary facilities to 2322 Primary Health Centers (PHCs), 715 Community Health Centers (CHCs), and 314 District Hospitals (DHs).
- Supply of essential AYUSH medicines to 996 AYUSH hospitals and 12405 AYUSH dispensaries.
- Support for setting up 16 new AYUSH teaching institutions.
- Upgradation of infrastructure, library and other facilities in 76 undergraduate (UG) and 36 postgraduate (PG) AYUSH teaching institutions.
- Support to 1055 AYUSH villages.
- 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs approved.
Challenges faced by Ministry of AYUSH
- Lack of scientific validation.
- Lack of quality of education and practitioners.
- Lack of awareness and integration with modern medicine.
Steps taken to promote AYUSH
- National AYUSH Mission (2014): Centrally sponsored scheme.
- 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in AYUSH sector.
- Establishment of Indian System of Medicine Commission: To ensure quality in AYUSH education.
- AyurGyan Yojana: To enhance capacity of AYUSH health sector.