The Budget 2023-24 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today gives a boost to the government’s focus on integrating Ayush into the national health system. Ayush Ministry’s budget has increased by 20 percent to Rs 3647 crores. Ayush research councils have also been emphasized in the budget as a means of promoting evidence-based research in Ayush systems.
Shri Narendra Modi recently discussed the need for evidence-based generation of the Ayurvedic database, which would meet modern science’s parameters. Increased budget allocations to Ayush research councils and institutes reflect the same commitment.
National Ayush Mission (NAM) budget allocations have been increased by 50 percent to Rs 1200 crores from Rs 800 cores. In order to provide cost-effective Ayush Services with universal access, NAM has upgraded Ayush hospitals and dispensaries, upgraded health care facilities such as Health & Wellness Centers (HWC), and co-located Ayush facilities in primary healthcare centers, community health centers, and hospitals.
The NAM supports the cultivation of medicinal plants, the production of quality and standardized ingredients for Ayush products, the integration of medicinal plants into farming systems, and the export of value-added products made from medicinal plants.
As a result, all states (Rs 920 crores), union territories (Rs 96 crores), and North Eastern areas (Rs 231 crores) have also seen an increase in grants-in-aid, from Rs 861.97 crores to Rs 1246.73 crores.
The budget recognizes the strength of Indian traditional medicine. The education facility and community outreach should be improved for other Ayush systems such as Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha, Naturopathy, and Sowa Rigpa.
**PIB India**