Continuation of National AYUSH Mission

• India possesses an unmatched heritage represented by its traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, Unani and also Homeopathy (ASU&H) which are a treasure house of knowledge for preventive, promotive and curative healthcare.
• The positive features of the Indian systems of medicine namely their diversity and flexibility; accessibility; affordability, broad acceptance by a large section of the general public; comparatively lesser cost and growing economic value, have great potential to make them providers of healthcare that the large sections of our people need.
• The government of India is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) through States/UTs for development and promotion of AYUSH system of medicine including Homoeopathy.
• Under NAM, Grant-in-aid is being provided to State/UT Governments for the development and promotion of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) as per their proposed State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs).
• A specific resource pool with respect to NAM for each State/UT Government is allocated and communicated by the Central Government.
• Accordingly, the State/UT Governments submit their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) to the Ministry as per their felt need in accordance with NAM guidelines.
• Since NAM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and implementation of the programme comes under the purview of respective States/UT governments, no specific targets have been fixed by the Government of India in the States/UTs.
• As Public Health is a State subject, setting up of AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries comes under the purview of respective State/UT Governments.
• However, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National AYUSH Mission (NAM), there is the provision of financial assistance for upgradation of Government/ Panchayat/ Government aided AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries for undertaking addition/ alteration of existing premises, furniture, fixtures, equipments etc. State/UT Governments are eligible for seeking grant-in-aid under this activity as per NAM guidelines.

The objectives of the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) are as follows:

1. To provide cost-effective AYUSH Services, with universal access through upgrading AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries, co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).
2. To strengthen institutional capacity at the state level through upgrading AYUSH educational institutions, State Government Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) Pharmacies, ASU & H Drug Testing Laboratories and enforcement mechanism.
3. Support cultivation of medicinal plants by adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) so as to provide a sustained supply of quality raw materials and support certification mechanism for quality standards, Good Agricultural/Collection/Storage Practices.
4. (iv)Support setting up of clusters through a convergence of cultivation, warehousing, value addition, marketing and development of infrastructure for entrepreneurs.

Salient features of the National AYUSH Mission (NAM)

1. Co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).
2. Supply of essential drugs to AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries.
3. Up gradation of exclusive State Government AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries.
4. Setting up of up to 50 bedded integrated AYUSH Hospital.
5. Upgradation of State Government Educational Institutions.
6. Setting up of new State Government AYUSH Educational Institutions including Yoga and Naturopathy in the State where it is not available.
7. Strengthening of State Government/ Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories (DTL).
8. Cultivation and Promotion of Medicinal Plants.
9. Upgradation of Health facilities (AYUSH Dispensaries and Health sub-centres) into AYUSH Health and Wellness Centre.
10. Flexible components with provision for the following activities:

• AYUSH Wellness Centres including Yoga & Naturopathy
• Tele-medicine
• Sports Medicine through AYUSH
• Innovations in AYUSH including Public Private Partnership
• Reimbursement of Testing charges
• IEC activities
• Research & Development in areas related to Medicinal Plants
• Voluntary certification scheme: Project-based.
• Market Promotion, Market intelligence & buyback interventions
• Crop Insurance for Medicinal Plants

What is the news?

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme from 01-04-2021 to 31-03-2026 with financial implication of Rs. 4607.30 crores (Rs 3,000 crore as Central Share and Rs. 1607.30 crores as State Share). The Mission was launched on 15-09-2014.
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission is being implemented by Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India with the objectives of providing cost-effective AYUSH Services, with universal access through upgrading AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries, co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), strengthening institutional capacity at the State level through upgrading AYUSH educational institutions, setting up of new up to 50 bedded integrated AYUSH Hospital, AYUSH Public Health programmes and operationalization of 12,500 AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres to provide services of a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices so as to empower masses for "self-care" to reduce the disease burden, and out of the pocket expenditure.
• The Mission is to address the gaps in health services by supporting the efforts of State/UT Governments for providing AYUSH health services/education in the country, particularly in vulnerable and far-flung areas. Under NAM special focus is given for specific needs of such areas and for allocation of higher resources in their Annual Plans.

The expected outcomes of the mission are as follows:

• Better access to AYUSH healthcare services through increased healthcare facilities offering AYUSH services and better availability of medicines and trained manpower,
• Improvement in AYUSH education through a well-equipped enhanced number of AYUSH Educational institutions,

• To focus on reducing communicable/non-communicable diseases through targeted public health programmes using AYUSH systems of Healthcare.