Flush with funds, the Ayush ministry is brimming with ambitious plans to go global, and encourage entrepreneurship and mass production
Photo by Jaison G
The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (Ayush) was formed on November 9, 2014, with the vision to revive ancient Indian knowledge systems in medicine and healthcare and promote them among masses. During the pandemic, the ministry took several initiatives to popularise ancient Indian learnings as preventive healthcare methods for a healthy lifestyle.
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The government’s focus on the ministry is evident—budgetary allocation for it nearly tripled from Rs 685.21 crore in 2014 to Rs 1,939.76 crore in 2019. This year, allocation was increased to Rs 3,050 crore. The major success of the ministry has been integration of AYUSH Health & Wellness Centre (AHWC) with the government’s flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat. This will those following alternative medicinal treatment to get insurance benefits. Between 2017-18 and 2020-21, the number of patients visiting government-run Ayush centres grew by more than 70 per cent. In terms of education, the institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) at Jamnagar has been conferred the status of Institute of National Importance. National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur has been declared as an Institution Deemed to be University.
