Cabinet approves national AYUSH mission

The union cabinet, at a meeting here chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday, gave its approval for launching the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) which will entail an increase in number of hospitals and availability of drugs and manpower.

An official release said the proposed mission will address the gaps in health services by supporting the efforts of states in providing AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) health services in the country, particularly in vulnerable and far-flung areas.

The mission will help in improvement of AYUSH education through enhancement in the number of upgraded educational institutions and better access to AYUSH services through increase in number of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, availability of drugs and manpower.

It will also provide sustained availability of quality raw material for AYUSH systems of medicine and improving availability of quality Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy (ASU&H) drugs through increase in number of pharmacies, drug laboratories and improved enforcement mechanism of drugs.

The release said India possesses an unmatched heritage represented by its ancient systems of medicine like ASU&H "which are a treasure house of knowledge for preventive and promotive healthcare."