Over Rs 400 lakh approved for AYUSH
Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre

New Delhi, February 24 2015: The Central Government has approved a sum of Rs 54351.02 lakhs for allocation to all States and Union Territories for mainstreaming AYUSH under the National Rural Health Mission during the current year 2014-15.As per information given by the Minister of State for AYUSH (IC), Shripad Yesso Naik in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today; the amount approved for Manipur was Rs 455.26 lakhs.

The mainstreaming of AYUSH is one of the core strategies in National Rural Health Mission which seeks to provide accessible, affordable and quality health care to the rural population.

Under National Health Mission (NHM) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) provisions for support to Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) doctors, paramedics and drugs were made at co-located public health facilities namely Primary Health Centre, Community Health Centre and district hospital with a view to provide range of services at co-located facilities and revitalize local health traditions.

The support for AYUSH infrastructure, equipment, furniture and medicines was provided by Ministry of AYUSH under shared responsibilities.

Under NHM and NRHM, engagement of AYUSH doctors and paramedics are being supported, provided they are co-located with existing District Hostpitals, Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres with priority given to remote PHCs and CHCs.

States and Union Territories engage the AYUSH doctors as per local preference.

Support for AYUSH medicines is also being provided at the AYUSH co-located health facilities.

NHM and NRHM also support training of AYUSH doctors and Information Education Communication (IEC) and Behavior Change Communication (BCC) activities for AYUSH.

States and Union Territories utilize funds for appropriate stream of AYUSH as per their requirement.

Under NHM and NRHM, Manipur recruited 95 AYUSH doctors for co-located health facilities, 72 AYUSH doctors under RBSK and 59 paramedics and pharmacists.

Co-located AYUSH health facilities in Manipur are available at seven district hospitals, 17 community health centres, one at other than community health centre above block level but below the district level, and 72 primary health centres.

Regulatory provisions and rules for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathic drugs were in place under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which is a Central Act applicable throughout the country.

Rules 85-A to 85-I and Rules 151 to 159 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 respectively provide the regulatory provisions for grant of licenses to manufacture Homoeopathic and Ayurveda, Siddha Unani drugs and promote their safety and quality.

The standards of Homoeopathic medicines to be complied with are prescribed in Schedule II of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs in Rule 168 of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 .

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