Steps Taken By The Government To Spread Awareness Of AYUSH System Of Medicines In The Country

1. National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur-Rajasthan

2. National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata, West Bengal

3. National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore: Karnataka

4. National Institute of Siddha, Chennai: Tamil Nadu

5. National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune, Maharastra

6. Rastriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth, New Delhi:

7. Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, New Delhi:

8. Institute of Post Graduate & Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, Gujarat ( The Institute is fully financed under the Central Finance Scheme and governed by the Acts and statutes of Gujarat Ayurved University.)

Further, three new Institutes viz. All India Institute of Ayurveda-New Delhi, North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy, Shillong, Meghalaya and North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh are in advance stage of operationalization.

The criteria for setting up of and recognizing new Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani ,Colleges / institutes are specified in the following notified regulations :

1. The establishment of new medical college, opening of new or higher course of study or training and increase of Admission Capacity by a Medical Collge Regulations, 2003 read with amendment Regulations of 2013.

2. The Indian Medicine Central Council (Permission to Existing Medical Colleges) Regulations, 2006.

3. Indian medicine Central Council (Minimum Standards Requirements of Ayurveda Colleges and attached Hospitals) Regulations 2012 read with amendment Regulation of 2013.

4. The Indian Medicine Central Council (Minimum Standard Requirement of Siddha Colleges and attached Hospitals) Regulations 2013.

5. The Indian Medicine Central Council (minimum Standard Requirement of Unani Colleges and attached Hospitals) Regulations, 2013.

The criteria for setting up of new Homoeopathic Medical College has been specified in the Homoeopathic Central Council (Minimum Standards of Requirement of Homoeopathic Colleges and attached Hospitals), Regulations, 2013.

Ministry of AYUSH has not established any AYUSH Information Cell in the Country. The dissemination of information on AYUSH in the country is done through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Scheme. The Ministry of AYUSH has been publicizing AYUSH systems under Central Sector Scheme of Promotion of Information, Education and Communication in AYUSH by undertaking the following activities:

i. Organization of Arogya Fairs at the National and State level;

ii.Participation in Health Fairs / Melas / Exhibitions organized by Government Department, State Governments and other reputed organizations.

iii.Preparation and distribution of authentic publicity material on AYUSH systems including multi-media/ print media campaigns, audio visual materials for popularization of AYUSH systems.

iv.Providing financial assistance to reputed organizations, NGOs Educational / Research Institutes for organizing Seminars, Conferences, Symposiums, Workshops, Meetings etc. on AYUSH systems.

v. Providing incentives to AYUSH Industry to participate in Arogya and other Fairs / Melas / Exhibitions organized by Central / State Governments/ Government organizations / reputed organizations like Chemexil, Pharmexcil, CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, ITPO at State / National level.

Further, under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) the following provisions have been made to promote and spread awareness of AYUSH system of medicines including Unani System in the Country:

a. Public Health Outreach activity: Under this activity, it proposed focus on increasing awareness about AYUSH’s strength in solving community health problems resulting from nutritional deficiencies, epidemics and vector-borne diseases, Maternal and Child Health Care etc. This component is aimed to provide grant-in-aid to State Government initiatives for the roll out of proven AYUSH interventions for improving health status of the population and also the identified National Campaigns by AYUSH, like Geriatric Campaign, Anti-anemia Campaign etc. through distribution of medicines, organizing Health awareness camps etc.

b. Behavior Change Communication (BCC): BCC has been included under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) to prevent communicable diseases and non- communicable diseases. Early prevention and case detection is the most important strategy of all non-communicable diseases which are generally emerged due to life style deviations and ill-healthy diet.

c. AYUSH Gram: AYUSH Gram is a concept wherein one village per block will be selected for adoption of method and practice of AYUSH way of life and interventions of health care. In AYUSH village AYUSH based lifestyles are promoted through behavioral change communication, training of village health workers towards identification and use of local medicinal herbs and provision of AYUSH health services. The elected village representatives are sensitized towards the concept so that there is also active participation from the community.

d. School Health Programme through AYUSH: Under this program it is proposed to provide easy access to health, nutrition and hygiene education and services through AYUSH systems of medicine is a simple and cost effective tool which can go a long way in the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases. The main focus of School Health Programme through AYUSH is to address the health needs of school going children both physical and mental through providing AYUSH services including Yoga and counselling.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.