The Central
Government is planning to set up specialized Ayush cells in all government
hospitals in a phased manner. The Ayush Ministry has already held talks in this
regard with the Health ministry.

“We’re already
running Ayush cells in AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital. The idea behind expanding
the services to more hospitals comes from the increased demand being witnessed
for traditional medicine,” Ayush minister Sarbanand Sonowal told the Times
of India.

The minister
pointed out that the Government has taken several steps to mainstream and
integrate Ayush healthcare services with modern medicine.

“The market
size of Ayush has increased from around USD 3 billion to USD 22 billion in the last
seven years,” he added.

AYUSH
(ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha and homeopathy) exports are expected to reach a
cumulative value of USD 23 billion by FY25. Between FY21 and FY25, the segment
is expected to grow 26 percent, the minister said.

Aswagandha
or winter cherry (a medicinal shrub) is amongst the highest exported items and
USA is the major buyer. The herb is known to have proven benefits in
addressing issues like blood pressure, fertility, and performance enhancement
in athletes.

Meanwhile,
the Ayush Ministry has conceptualized the Ayush Grid Project for creating a
comprehensive Information Technology backbone for the entire Ayush sector.

The Ayush
Grid platform envisages digitization of service delivery across the six
functional areas — Health Services, Education, Research, Drug Administration,
Medicinal Plants, and Ministry of Ayush Oversight along with capacity building
and media outreach.