Government :Steps to improve quality of education in AYUSH System of medicine

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik in a meeting held at the Lok Sabha said that the Government is taking all measures to improve quality of education in AYUSH System of medicine. He further stated that in order to promote higher education in the AYUSH systems, the Central Sector Scheme of International Cooperation has a component under which International Scholarship/fellowships in the field of AYUSH courses are offered in premier Institutes/colleges in India.

A total of 297 Ayurveda, 19 Naturopathy & Yoga, 46 Unani, 09 Siddha and 197 Homoeopathy colleges are imparting medical education at Under-graduate and/or Post-graduate levels in AYUSH. 123 Ayurveda, 12 Unani, 03 Siddha and 43 Homoeopathy colleges are imparting medical education at Post-graduate levels. Research in the form of Post-graduate thesis work is also undertaken by PG scholars. The courses offered by these institutes cover aspects across various disciplines.

Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani institutions are regulated by a Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) constituted under the Indian Medicine Central Council (IMCC) Act, 1970. Similarly, Homoeopathy institutes are regulated by a Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) constituted under the Homoeopathy Central Council (HCC) Act, 1973.

The number of students taking up education in AYUSH institutes at Under-graduate level is 34541 (17202 Ayurveda, 940 Naturopathy & Yoga, 2321 Unani, 420 Siddha and 13658 Homoeopathy) and Post-graduate level is 4923 (3646 Ayurveda, 45 Naturopathy & Yoga, 174 Unani, 140 Siddha and 918 Homoeopathy).

Provisions to increase the intake of students are already defined in the regulations namely “The Establishment of New Medical College, Opening of New or Higher Course of Study or Training and Increase of Admission Capacity by a Medical College Regulations, 2003 read with amendment Regulations of 2013 (for ASU)” & “The Establishment of New Medical College (Opening of New or Higher Course of Study or Training and Increase of Admission Capacity by a Medical College) Regulations, 2011 (for Homoeopathy)” under which institutes are applying every year and after examining the recommendation/report of the CCIM/CCH, the Central Government granting Letter of Intent and Letter of Permission to the institutes. The Central Government is also making awareness among students and encouraging them through general IEC activities like Arogya Mela, exhibitions, campaign etc. The Central Government has taken steps to promote education on AYUSH system in the country by approving the regulations for the colleges and notified by the Central Council of Indian Medicine and Central Council of Homoeopathy.

The Ministry of AYUSH has established two new institutes viz. All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi for Post-graduate education and North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy, Shillong for Under-graduate education in Ayurveda & Homoeopathy. Furthermore, the Ministry has granted permission to start Post-graduate course in two research institutes of Unani namely “Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM), Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir” and “Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM), Hyderabad, Telangana”.

The assistance given by the Government of India under the component of Development of AYUSH Institutions of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) is facilitating improvement in infrastructure in AYUSH Colleges and attached Hospitals and thereby improving quality of existing educational Institutions.