Page3news-: Mainstreaming of AYUSH under National Rural Health Mission

The Department of AYUSH has takenseveral steps for mainstreaming of AYUSH under the National Rural Health Mission. The achievements during the last four years (2009-10 to 2012-13) are as follows:

A. Mainstreaming of AYUSH under NRHM:

(a) During 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 for mainstreaming of AYUSH under National Rural Health Mission, grants-in-aid amounting to Rs 553.00 crore was given to the State /UT Governments for establishment of new AYUSH facilities in 803 Additional Primary Health Centre/ Primary Health Centre, 113 Community Health Centres, 24 District Hospitals and for upgradation of 379 Exclusive AYUSH hospitals and 415 Dispensaries. During 2011-12, Department of AYUSH also supported for setting up of 6 units of 50 bedded Integrated AYUSH Hospitals at Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand and 5 Units of 10 bedded Integrated AYUSH hospitals at Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim.

(b) A total number of 11478 AYUSH doctors and 4894 AYUSH para-medics have been appointed on contract basis at Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres with the assistance from NRHM mission flexipool.

B. Scheme for Development of AYUSH Institutions:

During 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, Government aided colleges were given grants-in-aid amounting to Rs.85.17 crores for upgrading their infrastructure and improving the quality of education under the Central Sponsored Scheme for Development of AYUSH institutions.

C. Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani& Homeopathy Education:

(1) Permission was granted to 8 new Ayurveda Medical Colleges. Additional 430 seats for Under Graduate (UG) course and 1030 seats for Post-Graduate (PG) permitted in the existing 100 Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Medical Colleges during 2009-10 to 2012-13.

(2) With an aim to improve the quality education in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of Medicine, a need was felt to amend the existing Regulations and also frame some new Regulations. After intensive and detailed discussion with all stakeholders, subject experts and officials of CCIM, amendments in existing Regulation and certain new Regulations were proposed in IMCC Act, 1970.

(3) For the first time in last 42 years, the following regulations under the IMCC Act, 1970 have been notified in the Gazette of India:

a) Indian Medicine Central Council (Post-Graduate Diploma Course in Ayurveda) Regulations 2010.

b) The Indian Medicine Central Council (Minimum Standard Requirements of Ayurveda Colleges and attached Hospitals) Regulations, 2012.

c) The Indian Medicine Central Council (Minimum Standard Requirements of Siddha Colleges and attached Hospitals) Regulations, 2013.

d) The Indian Medicine Central Council (Minimum Standard Requirements of Unani Colleges and attached Hospitals) Regulations, 2013.

(4) These Regulations will help in maintaining a uniform quality education in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Systems of Medicine across the country and two new regulations are presently under vetting of the Ministry of Law and Justice and likely to be published in the Gazette of India soon.

(5) Under the CCH Act, 1973, regulation namely the “Central Council Homoeopathy (Minimum Standard Requirements of Homoeopathy Colleges and attached Hospitals) Regulations, 1983” has been amended and notified after a long period of 30 years.

(6) Similarly, necessary amendments in nine Regulations related to UG/PG courses of ASU Systems under the IMCC Act, 1970 have been proposed and approved by Central Government, which are under vetting of the Ministry of Law and Justice.

(7) Recently, a landmark Judgment has been passed on 06.03.2013 by three Judges Bench of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India headed by Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, regarding Education in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) systems of Medicine. This is a comprehensive judgment which meticulously settles important legal issues for the larger benefits of education in ASU systems of Medicine. It would turn out to be watershed judgment. Through the judgment not only the policy of the Central Government has been upheld but also it gives a message to all the colleges which are not maintaining the minimum standards of education and clinical facilities for training.

D. Quality Control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani& Homoeopathy Drugs:

To strengthen quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy (ASU&H) drugs, following steps were taken:

(i) 13 State Drug Testing Laboratories, 11 State Pharmacies and 30 State Licensing Authorities were given financial support amounting to Rs.6.20 crore for improving drug testing facilities, production capacity and enforcement mechanism respectively;

(ii) 14 private drug manufacturing units were given subsidy for strengthening in-house quality control laboratories as per GMP requirements;

(iii) Pharmacopoiea Commission of Indian Medicine (PCIM) was set up in 2010 to oversee the development of quality standards of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs and to reinforce the functioning of Pharmacopoeia Committees;

(iv) Voluntary quality certification scheme for AYUSH products was started in collaboration with Quality Council of India (QCI);

(v) Regulatory reforms have been taken with regard to GMP guidelines for mineral and herbo-mineral formulations, expiry dates of ASU drugs, requirements for licensing of Patent or Proprietary ASU medicines, inspection of drug testing laboratories and amendment in labeling provisions;

(i) Recognition of Sowa Rigpa system of medicine under AYUSH systems by amendment in IMCC Act 1970;

(ii) During 2009-10 to 2012-13, the following monographs/formulations have been completed:

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia (AP)

(a) API (Part-I) - Single Drugs: 126

(b) API (Part-II) - Compound Formulations: 153

(d) Supporting Pharmacopoeial Publications: 351

Unani Pharmacopoeia

(a) Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (Part-I) : 48

(b) Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (Part-II): 101

Siddha Pharmacopoeia

(a) Siddha Pharmacopoeia (Part-I): 132

(b) Siddha Pharmacopoeia (Part-II): 151