Awareness and Accessibility of Free Ayush Medicines

Awareness and Accessibility of Free Ayush Medicines

The Ministry of Ayush has developed digital platforms such as the Ayush Hospital Management Information System (AHMIS) under Ayush Grid to digitize inventories and track the availability of medicines in Ayush facilities by doctors and pharmacists.

Under National Ayush Mission (NAM), State/UT Governments are being supported  for implementation of  Behavior Change Communication (BCC) and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities for creating awareness in the community about the strength of the Ayush system. These initiatives use mass media platforms to promote Ayush based preventive healthcare practices and encourage communities to adopt healthier lifestyles. In addition to it different outreach activities are also being supported through structured Ayush Public Health Programmes for creating awareness in the community by conducting camps and address public health issues by utilizing the potential of Ayush systems, with appropriate referral linkages with other Ayush healthcare facilities, in providing preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative health care services, either as standalone interventions or as an add-on to conventional systems of medicine.

(d) Under NAM, 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandir AAM (Ayush) [AAM (Ayush)] have been made operational across the Country. The Ministry of Ayush has organized Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes to train healthcare workers, including ASHA and ANM workers, about the benefits of Ayush for maintaining general wellness and preventing diseases. These grassroots workers are associated with AAM (Ayush) and involved in creating awareness in the community and guide people on simple preventive healthcare practices using Ayush methods for common illnesses. Additionally, in collaboration with the Central Health Education Bureau (CHEB), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India), Master Trainer programmes were organized in 2024 and 2025 on the management of musculoskeletal and metabolic disorders in Ayush systems of medicine. These trainings were conducted for medical officers from Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, and Siddha, with participants from all States/UTs.

Further, under the Flexible Component of NAM, financial assistance is also provided for training and capacity building of teaching staff, medical officers, and other paramedical staff in educational institutions and Ayush hospitals/dispensaries. State/UT Governments may avail financial assistance by submitting suitable proposals through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per NAM guidelines.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Ayush is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme namely AYURGYAN which is having a provision of financial assistance under the component of Capacity Building & Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Ayush for conducting training programs for Ayush personnel.

(e) & (f) Yes, Government of India is implementing NAM Scheme in coordination with State/UT Governments and supported their efforts for overall development and promotion of Ayush systems by providing financial assistance under different activities including BCC/IEC for creating awareness in the community about strength of different Ayush systems.

This information was given by the Minister of State (IC) for Ayush Shri Pratap Rao Jadhav in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 13th MARCH 2026.