National AYUSH Mission: A Vision to Integrate

 

 

The National AYUSH Mission (NAM) envisages promoting AYUSH medical systems. The program started as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The National AYUSH Mission aims to encourage the use of AYUSH systems and services by achieving:

• Increase in the number of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries.

 

• Operationalization of AYUSH health and Wellness centers 
  

 

• Upgradation of 12,500 Health and Sub-health centers for comprehensive healthcare at a grassroots level
  

 

• Mainstreaming AYUSH systems through the co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs), and District Hospitals (DH)

 

• Ensure the availability of AYUSH drugs and trained professionals at all health centers.

 

 

National AYUSH Mission received a financial implication of INR 4607.3 Crore (INR 3000 Crore as Central Share and INR 1607.3 Crore as State Share) from the Union Cabinet on July 14, 2021. The Cabinet also approved the implementation of 12,500 AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres (AWHCs) under the AYUSHMAN BHARAT initiative. 

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National AYUSH Mission: The Vision

Alternative medical systems have become a preferred mode of treatment by 80% of the global population, as per a recent WHO report. The Ministry of AYUSH aims to merge traditional healthcare treatments with modern medical practices through various undertakings. The National AYUSH Mission is a step in that direction. 

Improvement in AYUSH education by developing existing educational institutions, establishing new Colleges for better availability of AYUSH teachings, and generating holistic wellness models rooted in AYUSH practices are some statements illustrating the vision of the National AYUSH Mission.

National AYUSH Mission Activities

Mission Directorate approved State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) to put National AYUSH Mission activities into motion during 2022-23. These plans build upon past experiences and tweak the need assessment cum need response schemes. This has resulted in extensive coverage of AYUSH services across all 35 states/union territories. This section explores the proposed programs to strengthen the presence and availability of AYUSH healthcare systems. Falling under the Public Health Programs, they are listed and discussed below:

• National Program for Prevention and Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders:  Focus on creating awareness, generating better screening, and application of AYUSH interventions for complete treatment. 
  

 

• Integration of AYUSH with the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS): Establishment of AYUSH facilities in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family at District NCD Centers and Community Health Centers. Outreach activities are in alignment with public health centers across six states: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, and West Bengal. The same model will be implemented throughout India upon completion of the pilot mode in the mentioned states.
  

 

• SUPRAJA (AYUSH Maternal & Neo-natal Intervention): To strengthen maternal and neonatal interventions by developing AYUSH teaching hospitals and institutes.
  

 

• VAYO MITRA (AYUSH Geriatric Healthcare Services): A program focusing on a better lifestyle for older people.
  

 

• AYURVIDYA: A comprehensive educational program covering 75000 schools countrywide to incorporate AYUSH systems.

 

• AYUSH Mobile Medical Unit: Mobile Medical Units to provide healthcare in the furthermost areas with AYUSH systems.

 

• KARUNYA (AYUSH Palliative Services): Improve the quality of life for patients under palliative care.

 

• National Program on AYUSH for Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) of Lymphatic Filariasis (lymphoedema): Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) of Lymphatic Filariasis (lymphoedema) through AYUSH interventions
  
  

 

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Hospitals Setup Under National AYUSH Mission

Numbers suggest that the Ministry of AYUSH has successfully propagated the AYUSH systems of medicine. The year-on-year increase in the visibility of AYUSH in States and UTs is evident by the fact that AYUSH facilities have treated 27% of all the patients in the country. Through grant-aids to mainstream the AYUSH approach, there has been a growing colocation of AYUSH facilities in Primary and Community Health Centers and District Hospitals. 

National AYUSH Mission made a conscious effort to increase AYUSH treatments through financial assistance under different activities as per the State Annual Action Plan. The documented growth of OPD and IPD patients from January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022, is illustrated in the table below:

50/30/10 bedded integrated AYUSH hospitals have increased public access to AYUSH systems. National AYUSH Mission also looks to develop existing AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries. Upgradation of State Government Undergraduate and Post-Graduate Educational institutions is a listed objective under the National AYUSH Mission. 

 

 

Availability of Choices

The National Health Policy (NHP 2017) supports mainstreaming AYUSH healthcare systems within an expanded Integrated healthcare system. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare oversees engagement and collaboration among AYUSH practitioners and doctors. 

The Indian government is strategizing to colocate AYUSH facilities at Public Health Centers, Community Health Centers, and District Hospitals. This has expanded patient choices for availing different medical systems under a single window. NAM also supports the construction of AYUSH infrastructure, equipment, and medicines. 

 

Meeting AWHC Targets

The government of India has authorized the Ministry of AYUSH to implement 12,500 Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) by 2023-24. 12,300 HWCs received approval as of 2022-23, with 9108 units receiving grant aid in compliance with the Ministry of Expenditure. Data reported by the State and UT Governments lists 5409 AYUSH HWCs as progressive functional based on six criteria, and 6782 units are operational on three criteria. A year-wise target, approval given to States/UTs, and status of AYUSH HWCs are:

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Review of National AYUSH Mission

Along with virtual and hybrid review meetings with participant States and UTs, a Regional Level Review meeting was held on November 30, 2022, to evaluate AYUSH activities under the National AYUSH Mission for Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. The review committee conducted a two-day field visit in the State of Karnataka, followed by reviews conducted in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.

National AYUSH Mission expects better access to AYUSH healthcare services with the proposed increase in Public and Community Health Centers. It aims to empower AYUSH offerings through better availability of medicines and a well-trained workforce. NAM seeks to reduce communicable and non-communicable diseases by conducting targeted health programs under the AYUSH systems of medicine.

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