82 pc people aware of AYUSH, 28 pc using its treatment: Govt

Around 82 per cent people are aware of AYUSH system of medicines and only 28 per cent are using the treatment, the government said today.
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in their 68th round (July 2011-June 2012) on socio-economic household surveys has collected information on awareness and acceptability of AYUSH.
"As per information available from the survey, it is estimated that about 82.6 per cent people are having awareness of the AYUSH system and about 28.4 per cent people are using AYUSH treatment in the country," AYUSH Minister Shripad Yesso Naik said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) was created in March 1995 and re-named as Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in November 2003.

This was created with a view to providing focused attention to development of Education and Research in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy systems.
Naik said that the Government has approved and notified National AYUSH Mission (NAM) which envisages better access to AYUSH services through upgradation of AYUSH hospitals, dispensaries, setting up of co-located AYUSH facilities and 50-bedded integrated AYUSH Hospital.

It also envisages strengthening of AYUSH educational institutions, facilitate the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU&H raw materials in the states during 12th Plan.
He said the government has established Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) to prevent the misappropriation of patent on country's traditional medicinal knowledge including different aspects and techniques of Yoga.

Replying to another question, the Minister said that the Government has sanctioned 10 AYUSH industry clusters during the 11th Plan Period (2007-12).
Out of these, three clusters, one each at Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan have been completed during last three years.
"The Government proposes to set up more number of AYUSH Clusters in the country. For this purpose, development of AYUSH Cluster Scheme has been approved for continuation in the 12th Plan period (2012-17)," he said.