New Delhi | The Ministry of Ayush has taken major steps to promote scientific research in traditional medicine systems. It has set up separate apex research councils for different Ayush streams — Ayurveda, Unani, Homoeopathy, Siddha, Yoga, and Naturopathy. These include CCRAS, CCRUM, CCRH, CCRS, and CCRYN.
These councils focus on clinical research, medicinal plant studies, drug standardization, pharmacological work, and documentation. They also collaborate with universities, hospitals, and research institutes for joint studies. Healthcare services are provided through OPDs, IPDs, and special programs such as mobile health units and tribal health initiatives.
The Ministry has also launched the “AYURGYAN” scheme to support medical and research institutions with financial aid for projects that promote innovation and development in priority areas of Ayush.
In the last three years, CCRAS undertook 189 research studies and published 522 papers. CCRUM conducted 104 studies and published 484. CCRH carried out 184 studies with 88 publications. CCRS did 32 studies and published 195, while CCRYN completed 63 studies.
To integrate Ayush with modern evidence-based practices, the Ministry, in collaboration with ICMR and AIIMS, launched the Ayush-ICMR Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research. Four AIIMS branches have been selected to focus on key areas — gastrointestinal health and women-child health at AIIMS Delhi, geriatric health at AIIMS Jodhpur and Rishikesh, and cancer care at AIIMS Nagpur.
Several agreements have also been signed between CCRUM and institutes like AIIMS, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Hamdard, NIPER, IICT Hyderabad, and others to integrate Unani with modern medicine. CCRS is running Siddha OPDs for cancer care at institutions in Delhi. CCRH is working with AIIMS Delhi and Jhajjar, and other government and private colleges to integrate Homoeopathy in mainstream healthcare. Homoeopathy services are also being provided at Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi Cantonment Hospital, BRD Medical College Gorakhpur, and hospitals in Mizoram and Nagaland.
This information was shared by Union Minister of State for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
