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Social IssuesFree till Sep 9

Ayush: Traditional Medicine Systems and Policy

July 19, 2026

Ayush: Traditional Medicine Systems and Policy

Introduction

AYUSH represents six traditional Indian medicine systems: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy. The Ministry of AYUSH (established 2014, earlier Department of AYUSH since 2003) is responsible for promoting and regulating these systems. With growing global interest in traditional medicine and India's push for medical tourism and wellness, AYUSH has gained significant policy attention, especially post-COVID-19.

Evolution of AYUSH

Timeline

YearMilestone
1951Drugs and Cosmetics Act recognizes Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani drugs
1969Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) established
1973Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) established
1995Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H)
2003Renamed Department of AYUSH
2014Independent Ministry of AYUSH (from MoHFW)
2018WHO recognizes AYUSH for traditional medicine strategy
2020AYUSH systems promoted for COVID-19 immunity and management
2024NCISM (National Commission for Indian System of Medicine) replaces CCIM

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The Six Systems

SystemOriginCore TextsFocus
AyurvedaIndia (Vedic period)Charaka Samhita, Sushruta SamhitaBalance of doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
YogaIndia (ancient)Patanjali Yoga SutrasMind-body harmony through asanas, pranayama, meditation
NaturopathyGermany (18th-19th c.) + Indian adaptationPrinciples of nature cureHealing through natural elements (earth, water, air, fire, ether)
UnaniGreece (Hippocrates) → Arab world → IndiaCanon of Medicine (Avicenna)Humoral theory (blood, phlegm, bile, black bile)
SiddhaTamil Nadu (ancient)Agastya Saivam, ThirumoolarFive elements + 3 humors (Vatham, Pitham, Kapam)
Sowa-RigpaTibetan HimalayasGyud Zhi (Four Tantras)Body-mind balance; prevalent in Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal
HomoeopathyGermany (Hahnemann, 1796)Organon of Medicine"Like cures like"; ultra-diluted remedies

Policy Framework

National AYUSH Mission (NAM)

  • Launch: 2014
  • Objective: Promote AYUSH through cost-effective services, education, and research
  • Components:
    • Co-location of AYUSH facilities in PHCs/CHCs/District Hospitals
    • Upgradation of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries
    • Drug quality control — AYUSH drug testing labs
    • Medicinal plants conservation — support for MPCA (Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas)
    • Education — upgrading AYUSH colleges and research institutes

AYUSH Grid (Digital Initiative)

  • Components:
    • AYUSH Sahaj (e-Sanjeevani telemedicine for AYUSH)
    • AYUSH Sujlam (supply chain)
    • AYUSH Manthan (research database)
    • AYUSH Aushadhi (drug licensing portal)
  • Impact: Tele-consultations through e-Sanjeevani AYUSH surpassed 10 million mark (2024)

Regulatory Framework

  • Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: Schedule I (Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani drugs) — registration, licensing, quality standards
  • AYUSH Drugs Rules (2022): Updated GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) for AYUSH products
  • Pharmacopoeia Commission: Separate commissions for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homoeopathy
  • Quality mark: AYUSH Standard Mark Scheme for voluntary certification

Medicinal Plants Sector

Importance

  • India is one of 17 mega-biodiverse countries with ~8,000 medicinal plant species
  • ~2,000 species used in AYUSH formulations
  • Medicinal plant trade estimated at ₹5,000-10,000 crore
  • Supported by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) (2000)

Government Schemes

SchemeFocusCoverage
Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas (MPCA)In-situ conservation265 MPCAs across 14 states
Support for cultivationEx-situ through farmersSubsidy on 140 species
Central Sector Scheme on Medicinal PlantsCultivation, processing, marketingFor aromatic/medicinal species
Herbal FPOsFarmer Producer OrganizationsValue chain integration

AYUSH in Healthcare Delivery

Integration with Mainstream System

  • Co-location: AYUSH doctors in PHCs/CHCs/District Hospitals
  • AYUSH Wellness Centres: Part of Ayushman Bharat (HWCs)
  • AYUSH Gram (AYUSH Village): Model villages with AYUSH-based health promotion
  • Tele-AYUSH: Through e-Sanjeevani OPD (since COVID-19)

Role in COVID-19

  • Ministry of AYUSH released Ayush Kwath (immunity-boosting formulation)
  • Ayush Sanjivani mobile app for data collection on AYUSH usage
  • Protocols: AYUSH-64, Kabasura Kudineer (Siddha) used in COVID management
  • Controversy: Studies on AYUSH-64 showed mixed results; critics questioned unbranded formulation promotion
  • WHO recognition: AYUSH practices included in WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023

Global Standing

WHO Traditional Medicine Centre

  • WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) established in Jamnagar, Gujarat (2022)
  • First and only WHO global centre for traditional medicine
  • Focus: Research, evidence base, quality standards, data sharing

International Promotion

  • AYUSH products exported to 150+ countries
  • MoUs with WHO, UNCCD, and bilateral agreements with 20+ countries
  • AYUSH diplomatic push: Yoga Day (June 21) celebrated globally
  • AYUSH research collaborations: With Harvard, NIH (USA), and others

Challenges

ChallengeDetails
Evidence baseLimited rigorous clinical trials for many AYUSH treatments
Quality controlHeavy metal contamination, adulteration, poor GMP compliance
StandardizationVariations in raw material, formulation, dosage across manufacturers
IntegrationReluctance from mainstream medical professionals
Research fundingLow allocation for AYUSH R&D compared to allopathy
Regulatory gapsSame drug schedule for over-the-counter and prescription AYUSH drugs
Counterfeit productsHerbal products sold without regulatory oversight
Medical tourismPotential underutilized — limited infrastructure for wellness tourism

Way Forward

  1. Evidence-based validation: Rigorous clinical trials for key AYUSH formulations
  2. Quality infrastructure: Strengthen pharmacopoeia, GMP enforcement, testing labs
  3. Integrated health education: Include AYUSH in MBBS curriculum and vice versa
  4. Export push: GI tagging, branding (like India's "Ayurveda" brand)
  5. Digital infrastructure: Complete AYUSH Grid rollout, AI for traditional knowledge mining
  6. Research on medicinal plants: Document tribal knowledge, patent protection, cultivation support
  7. Manufacturing hub: Position India as global leader in herbal products and nutraceuticals

Conclusion

AYUSH represents India's civilizational heritage in medicine and wellness. With the WHO GCTM in Jamnagar and growing global interest in holistic health, India is well-positioned to lead the traditional medicine renaissance. However, bridging the evidence gap, ensuring quality, and building mainstream acceptance remain critical challenges. For UPSC, AYUSH is a recurring topic in health, governance, and India's soft power strategy.

Practice Questions

  1. Discuss the role of the Ministry of AYUSH in promoting traditional medicine systems in India.
  2. "AYUSH faces a credibility challenge despite its ancient roots." Critically examine.
  3. How can AYUSH contribute to India's healthcare delivery and medical tourism?