AYUSH ministry seeks hike in budgetary allocation

The AYUSH ministry, which deals with alternative medicine like ayurveda and homeopathy, has sought a hike in allocation for itself in the coming budget from the current Rs.4 billion to Rs.27 billion.

Ayush Minister Sripad Yesso Naik said that until now, a meagre Rs.4 billion was allocated for it for the fiscal 2014-15 which needed to be multiplied in view of the emerging importance of evolving AYUSH and the ministry has already proposed to the finance ministry to take it to the level of Rs. 27 billion for the next fiscal, a release said here Friday.

The ministry of AYUSH deals with alternative medicine like homeopathy, ayurveda and yunani.

Speaking at the inauguration of a conference on "Mainstreaming Ayush: Cultural Heritage for Healing" under the aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Naik also disclosed that the government would soon have an independent drug controller for AYUSH that will be separated from the drug controller of modern medicine.

"The drug controller for AYUSH would be provided with sufficient teeth to regulate AYUSH as per new policy prescription, and would also be provided with a mandate to issue the certificate of pharmaceutical products for exports of AYUSH products," he said.

"Recruitment rules are being finalized for the new drug controller and cabinet note being finalized for new regulations of AYUSH products under the new AYUSH health policy which would be unveiled very shortly", he added.

The fresh standards are also being worked out to ensure that quality AYUSH products are made as per new policy prescription so that such products are well tested for their authenticity, credibility and quality.