Ayurvedamagazine

Tag: Healthcare

  • Ministry launches film series to showcase the progressive impact of National Ayush Mission among the public

    The Ministry of Ayush launched a film series titled “Ayush for All: Holistic Health Care through National Ayush Mission” on Tuesday, showcasing the progressive impact of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) towards bringing equitable, affordable, and holistic healthcare to every citizen, including those in the remotest corners of the country. The series was unveiled by Prataprao Jadhav, the Union Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Ayush and Union Minister of State, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. 

    The National Ayush Mission (NAM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at strengthening Ayush healthcare services, promoting preventive care through Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush), and integrating Ayush systems into mainstream public health. NAM also emphasizes the development of Ayush educational institutions to enhance the quality of education and research.

    Till now, the NAM scheme has supported the establishment of 167 Integrated Ayush Hospitals and upgraded 416 Ayush Hospitals and 5036 dispensaries. Essential Ayush medicines were supplied to 996 hospitals and 12,405 dispensaries each year. NAM also supported 16 new Ayush educational institutions and upgraded 112 others. Additionally, 3883 Yoga Wellness Centres, 1055 Ayush Grams, and 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) were established, promoting holistic wellness nationwide.

    The film series demonstrates how NAM, in collaboration with state/UT governments, has improved healthcare access and reduced out-of-pocket expenditures for rural and underserved populations. 

    “The National Ayush Mission has empowered communities with accessible and cost-effective healthcare based on traditional practices. This film series is a step towards making this information readily accessible to the public, thus showcasing Ayush’s pivotal role in reducing disease burden and promoting wellness across the nation,” said Prataprao Jadhav.

    “As part of the Ministry’s digital outreach efforts, the series will be available on the official YouTube channel of the Ministry of Ayush, ensuring convenient access for all citizens,” said Kavita Garg, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush.

    The National Ayush Mission has been a significant initiative in revolutionizing healthcare delivery in distant corners of the country. It has been transforming public health and improving access to preventive and promotive care across the nation. By bridging the gap in healthcare access and promoting a holistic wellness model, NAM continues to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable India.

  • World Ayurveda Congress to deliberate on the transformative potential of modern technologies in advancing Ayurveda

    The 10th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC 2024) and Arogya Expo were inaugurated on Thursday in Dehradun in the presence of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav. The 4-day event marks the coming together of more than 5500 Indian delegates and over 350 delegates from 54 countries. 

    “The 10th World Ayurveda Congress marks a pivotal juncture where various streams of ideologies, cultures, and innovations converge,” said Prataprao Jadhav. “Presently, we are in the middle of the nationwide ‘Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan’ initiative to evaluate the Prakriti of individuals based on Ayurveda principles. The campaign was launched on the 9th Ayurveda day on 29.10.2024 and represents a significant milestone. I request  everyone to actively participate in this campaign and contribute to this monumental effort.”

    The central theme for the WAC2024 is, ‘Digital Health: An Ayurveda Perspective’, and will delve into the transformative potential of modern technologies in advancing Ayurveda. The event will feature in-depth discussions and knowledge sharing on leveraging cutting-edge digital tools and innovations to enhance healthcare delivery, redefine research, and integrate Ayurveda into the rapidly evolving global health landscape.

    “We have tech-enabled solutions now within the Ayush Grid which will revolutionise healthcare through innovations that will enhance effectiveness, safety, and affordability. More than 1.3 billion dollars in investment is in the pipeline from global partners for this,” said Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush­­­­.

    The biennial event is organised by the World Ayurveda Foundation (WAF), an initiative of Vijnana Bharati. This year’s edition is set to unite Ayurveda practitioners, researchers, and enthusiasts from around the globe. Over 150 scientific sessions and 13 associate events will be held as part of it. An international delegates assembly, a health ministers’ conclave, an investors’ meeting, and satellite seminars are also being held.

    The 10th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo are expected to chart the path for a global healthcare ecosystem by focusing on Ayurveda solutions for diverse healthcare challenges faced by modern-day society. By bringing together experts, innovators, and stakeholders from around the world, the event serves as a significant milestone in the ongoing global recognition of Ayurveda’s transformative potential. With a focus on bridging traditional wisdom with modern technology, the WAC aims to ensure that Ayurveda continues to thrive as a sustainable and holistic healthcare system well into the future. 

  • Ayurveda Innovation for Global Health is the theme for the 9th annual Ayurveda Day

    Ayurveda innovation for Global Health is the theme of the 9th Ayurveda Day falling on 29th October, announced Union Minister of Ayush (Independent Charge) Prataprao Jadhav in a curtain raiser press conference held last Friday at Ayush Bhawan. The main event will be held at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, the minister said. 

    “This theme underscores the potential of Ayurveda’s contribution to the global health system through various innovative practice solutions. To facilitate the propagation of Ayurveda as a chief component of the Indian Traditional Medicine System, AIIA has also started a month-long campaign that includes a series of events spanning throughout the nation,” Jadhav said.

    Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, said that the theme resonates with the initiatives of the Ayush Ministry. Dr Tanuja Nesari, Director of AIIA, briefed the media about the efforts undertaken by AIIA to celebrate the 9th Ayurveda Day inclusively so that India as well as the whole world gets the benefit of Ayurveda.

    Ayurveda Day falls every year on the auspicious occasion of Dhanwantari Jayanti, also known as Dhanteras. Since the year 2016 the ‘Ayurveda Day’ has been celebrated annually with wholesome support from the government. The celebration reflects the commitment of India to the promotion of Ayurveda as an indispensable part of the holistic healthcare system of the Indian traditional medicine system and the overall healthcare culture of India.

    The Ayurveda Day event will showcase some important key initiatives aimed at the advancement of Ayurveda and the holistic healthcare system. The month-long campaign of Ayurveda Day which will conclude with the Ayurveda Day celebration event on 29th October will see various activities related to Ayurveda Day taking place throughout the nation. 

    From mass awareness campaigns to engagement activities and numerous promotional activities to be carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Ayush, the celebration of the 9th Ayurveda Day will highlight Centre’s effort to improve healthcare results by mainstreaming Ayurveda and encouraging innovation, thereby expanding its worldwide reach.

  • 170 Ayush packages finalized to be incorporated under AB-PMJAY, says minister

    A total of 170 Ayush packages have been finalized to be incorporated under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) as part of bringing traditional medicine treatment into mainstream healthcare. This was informed by Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Ayush (Independent Charge) in a media briefing today at the national capital. The minister was highlighting the major achievements of the Ministry of Ayush in the first 100 days of the current administration.

    “The Ministry had convened a review meeting to incorporate Ayurvedic packages under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Presently, 170 packages have been finalized and this number can be increased as per the requirement. To finalize cost structures and guarantee the affordability of Ayush treatments under the program, a Strategic Purchasing Committee has been established,” Jadhav said.

    “The Ministry has made remarkable progress in promoting traditional Indian systems of medicine and strengthening Ayush in the field of international cooperation. The evaluation of 1489 Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) has been completed for accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers. Among them, 1005 of these have been certified for Ayush Entry Level Certification (AELC),” the minister said.

    Prataprao Jadhav emphasized that the health of every citizen of India is important. Keeping this in view,

    14,692 Ayush camps were organised around the country for elderly citizens within the time frame of 100 days. Free consultations, therapies, and guidance on holistic health using Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and homoeopathy were offered at these camps.

    The Ayush sector is also witnessing a massive infrastructure thrust with the commencing of Phase II of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi. A 194-bed hospital, an Ayurvedic Sports Medicine Complex, and Panchkarma treatment rooms are among the amenities included at a total cost of ₹289.05 crore in this phase. 

    The National Institute of Ayurveda coming up in Panchkula, Haryana, with a ₹294.91 crore investment will function as a top-tier teaching and research facility with a 250-bed hospital and undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs in Ayurveda. Also, the preliminary process for establishing three Central Research Institutes for Yoga and Naturopathy (CRIYN) in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh has been completed.

    To guarantee easy access to Ayush medications, special medical stores will be opened at every tehsil level. Access to a variety of herbal and traditional medicines will be made possible by these stores, improving public healthcare in both urban and rural areas. 

    The efficacy and security of traditional medicines will be aligned with global standards under the One Herb, One Standard initiative being jointly carried out by the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) and the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)

    To promote cutting-edge traditional medicine research, teaching, and healthcare innovation, six new Centers of Excellence were founded in partnership with esteemed establishments like IISc Bangalore, IIT Delhi, TMC Mumbai, and JNU New Delhi with a total funding of ₹52.47 crore, the minister said. 

  • ‘Kerala aims to garner 10 per cent of India’s medical value tourism’

    India’s medical value tourism is in the range of USD 6.5-7 billion per year, according to Union Government agencies, and Kerala hopes to garner 10 per cent of this, said Dr Saji Kumar, Chairman of the Global Ayurveda Summit. For this, Kerala needed to focus on attracting medical-value travellers with specific targets and programs, he added. 

    Dr Saji Kumar, along with Dr P.V. Louis, Co-convenor of Kerala Healthcare Panel, was addressing a press conference in connection with the 6th Edition of the Global Ayurveda Summit and the 11th Edition of Kerala Health Tourism Summit scheduled to be held jointly at Adlux International Convention Centre in Angamaly, Kochi, on August 29 and 30. 

    “Kerala has one of the best healthcare infrastructures in terms of hospitals and healthcare professionals in modern and ayurvedic systems of medicine. The state has also developed synergy between healthcare and tourism”, Dr. Saji Kumar pointed out. 

    “Kerala should be developed as a unique destination for holistic healthcare solutions. The state is in a good position to offer a unique value proposition to discerning travellers looking for better healthcare solutions,” said Dr Louis. 

    The two-day event is poised to provide opportunities for exchanging ideas and networking at the national and global levels with leaders from across the globe from the Ayurveda and Healthcare fraternity joining the deliberations. The key themes include branding development, the promotion of startups, and the use of technological advancements, like AI, to enhance the efficacy of Ayurveda.

    Representatives from 18 countries, including France, Switzerland, Russia, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Bangladesh, will be in attendance. Over 80 exhibitors will showcase their products and services across Ayurveda and Healthcare sectors. Around 700 delegates and over 2000 visitors are expected for the event. 

    Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the summit virtually in the presence of the Ayush Secretary, Rajesh Kotecha IAS. Kerala Tourism Secretary Biju K. IAS and Ahmed Gasim, Minister of State for Health, Republic of Maldives will also be present, along with a host of other dignitaries. 

  • Stakeholders discuss ways to widen Ayush insurance coverage

    To make Ayush treatments more accessible, stakeholders gathered to discuss the regulatory framework and policy support needed to include Ayush treatments in health insurance schemes at the sensitization program organised by the Ministry of Ayush for Insurance Companies and Ayush Hospital Owners at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) on Monday. 

    The meeting was organised after the  Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDAI) directed to bring Ayush treatments under health insurance coverage effective from April 01, 2024. This necessitated the need for deeper understanding between Ayush hospitals, healthcare providers and the insurance sector stakeholders. 

    “The aim is to ensure easy access to Ayush treatments for everyone. This focus on accessibility is coupled with remarkable growth in the sector, with the manufacturing of Ayush products increasing eightfold in the last decade,” said Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush.

    “We’re making significant strides in integrating Ayush treatments into the mainstream healthcare system. The focus is to enable cashless access to Ayush services through the TPA network. Today’s meeting brings us closer to realizing our vision of making Ayush treatments accessible and affordable for all”. Said Prof. Tanuja Nesari, Director, of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA).

    Many stakeholders gave their perspectives from both the insurance sector and Ayush Hospitals during the meeting. A variety of topics including insurance coverage in the Ayush sector and onboarding of Ayush hospitals on the ROHINI (Registry of Hospitals in Network of Insurance) platform were discussed during the meeting.  

    The current insurance services are largely focused on surgical and emergency services though two-thirds of the premium payers are people dealing with long-term diseases. Hence there is an urgent need to promote the empanelment of Ayush healthcare organisations and to increase Ayush representation on key committees in the insurance sector. 

    Dr. Kousthubha Upadhyaya, adviser of the Ministry of Ayush said that the ministry had constituted a core group of experts in October 2023 to conduct a study of the current status of Ayush systems under health insurance and to create a white paper. “The Ministry of Ayush and National Health Authority are working towards inclusion of Ayush interventions into Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY),” he added. 

    Other key speakers in the program included Dr. Alka Kapoor, DMS, AIIA; Yogananda Tadepalli, CTO, IIBI; Segar Sampathkumar, General Insurance Council (GIC); Amit Jain, Chief operating officer, Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd.; Shri Ram Natesan, Sr. Vice President, Network & Provider Management, Star Health Insurance; Dr. Sunil Gala, Head of claims magma, HDL; and Rohit Gupta, Head of group health business, SBI General Insurance

    The event is seen as a significant step towards integrating traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare, ensuring broader insurance coverage for Ayush treatments, and promoting overall health and well-being.

  • AYUSH joins mainstream with entry into WHO international classification of diseases

    The data and terminology relating to diseases based on Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems will now be included in the WHO’s ICD11 classification. This move is expected to lead to global uniformity in ASU (Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha) medicine as a code of vocabulary defining diseases.

    The International Classification of Diseases (ICDs) was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify diseases internationally. Till now, the global data on diseases was collected mainly through diagnosis using modern biomedicine. This left out data based on AYUSH systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, etc.

    With the inclusion of the AYUSH stream in the WHO ICD classification, further expansion is expected in the research, development, and insurance coverage of AYUSH streams, thus strengthening India’s public healthcare delivery system. Additionally, these codes will also be used in the formulation of future strategies to control various diseases in society.

    The categorization of data and terminology related to diseases based on AYUSH – Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems under the TM2 module of the ICD11 series was prepared by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with the WHO. Infectious diseases like Malaria and lifestyle diseases like chronic insomnia are included in this classification.

    Under ICD-11, there will be an international coding of terminology and the names and data of prevalent diseases of ASU Medicine will be notified through the TM2 module. ICD11 will be released on 10th January 2024 in New Delhi in the joint presence of officials from WHO and the Ministry of AYUSH.

     

  • ‘Ayurveda’s role during Covid times should be recorded in history books’

    Ayurveda’s role during the times of Covid must be recorded in history books for saving the lives of millions during the second wave of COVID-19, experts said on Tuesday at the Global Ayurveda Festival held at the Karyavattom Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. 

    “Ayurveda researchers and practitioners emerged as saviors during the second wave of Covid when the mortality rate was exceptionally high,” said Dr. Sanjeev Rastogi, HoD Dept of Kayachikitsa, State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow.

    “They tirelessly and fearlessly provided services when the conventional healthcare system was unable to provide adequate care to all. Complete recovery was made possible in cases that were given bad prognosis through their efforts”, Dr. Rastogi said. 

    Citing some examples, Dr. Rastogi pointed out the case of a patient who was in the ICU for 14 days but whose complete recovery was made possible in the next 19 days. Another was the case of a family comprising four adults who tested positive during the second wave of the pandemic and were treated well at home through Ayurveda despite the observed fall in oxygen level.

    Dr. Pooja Sabharwal, Assistant Professor, Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan, New Delhi, said that while it was important to understand the mechanism in the purview of contemporary science, the notion that communicable diseases can only be managed by modern science is false. 

    “Ayurveda has various evidences for the management of communicable diseases. Ayurveda is a rich science with potential antiviral drugs, which can arrest the viral disease,” said Dr. Sabharwal.

  • Ayush systems effective in tackling Covid-19; NITI Aayog releases compendium of Ayush practices from states

    NITI Aayog on
    Saturday released a compendium of Ayush-based practices from States and Union
    territories detailing information about various Ayush-based initiatives and
    practices adopted by the States and Union territories in India for containing
    and managing the Covid-19 outbreak.

    “In India,
    along with the contemporary medicine system, Ayush systems have played an active
    role on various fronts to tackle the health crisis caused by the Covid-19
    pandemic. I hope that these collective efforts of traditional and conventional
    healthcare systems will pave the way for the world by providing a holistic
    healthcare system model,” said Minister of State for Ayush Dr. Munjpara
    Mahendrabhai Kalubhai during the release of the compendium.

    Since the
    year 2020, the world has been facing an unprecedented public health crisis in
    the form of Covid-19. States and Union territories have been equal partners of
    the Union Government in managing the Covid-19 outbreak in India. Ayush
    Departments of States/UTs have joined their hands with State Health Departments
    to strengthen India’s fight against Covid-19. 

    “It is
    critical to communicate the learnings from the testing times during the Covid-19 outbreak about how Ayush practices implemented at national and State level
    benefited people. The compendium provides information focused on practices
    adopted by various States and UTs of India to strengthen the country’s
    fight against Covid-19, using Ayush’s resources and interventions. I am sure
    this document will be a crucial knowledge resource for stakeholders from other
    countries who have a good network of traditional medicine systems. It will
    significantly aid in our fight against Covid-19, other epidemics, and pandemics
    in the future,” stated NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Shri Suman Bery in his message.

    NITI Aayog
    Member Dr. V K Paul in his message mentioned, “I am hopeful that practices
    documented in this compendium will be useful to address any future surge of the
    pandemic and also serve as a model of an integrative approach to health
    action.”.

    In preparing
    the compendium of Ayush-based practices, NITI Aayog reached out to all State
    Governments and administrations of Union territories, requesting them to share
    Ayush practices they have undertaken for Covid-19 mitigation and management.

    The
    practices in the compendium have been disaggregated under five sections: (i)
    Overview and objectives of practices adopted by the States/UTs (ii) Ayush Human
    Resource and infrastructure (iii) Interventions and Initiatives (iv) Digital
    Platform and Tele-medicine (v) Issues occurred or addressed. The compendium has
    also included a summary of the Ministry of Ayush, the Government of India
    guidelines, and initiatives.

    The report
    indicates that traditional healthcare systems in the country would be strengthened
    further. The integration of evidence-based Ayush services with the modern
    system has the potential to significantly strengthen India’s healthcare system.

  • Jiva Ayurveda to promote online healthcare services in rural India

    Jiva Ayurveda has partnered with Bharti Airtel under the flagship BharatNet program of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to make quality healthcare services available to patients in rural India.

    Under the partnership, Airtel and BharatNet have already set up three Broadband Experience Centers in three villages in Uttar Pradesh viz: Ghazipur, Gorakhpur and Varanasi. Airtel has committed to partner with BharatNet in up to 30500 Gram Panchayats.

    Airtel will provide 100 mbps connectivity to these Broadband Experience Centers. Through the Centers, villagers in rural settlements will get access to digital and web based services such as online health consultations, online banking and ecommerce. Airtel and BharatNet have partnered with Jiva Ayurveda for online health consultations.

    Dr. Partap Chauhan, Director, Jiva Ayurveda said, “Jiva Ayurveda is a leading Ayurvedic treatment service provider company which runs the largest telemedicine center in the world for Ayurveda. We are pleased to partner with Airtel and applaud the efforts of DoT in this breakthrough and ambitious initiative of BharatNet. Connecting the 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats will ensure that affordable, quality healthcare becomes accessible at the complete grassroots level.”

    Under BharatNet, the Department of Telecom (Government of India) has embarked upon a visionary project to connect 2.5 Lakh Gram Panchayat villages with optical fiber connectivity. The second phase of the project aims at connecting the remaining 1.4 lakh gram panchayats which is targeted to be completed by March 2019.

    Jiva Ayurveda was founded in 1992 with a vision to create a healthy, happy and peaceful society by reviving the Vedic Indian science of healing and well-being, Ayurveda in a modern context. The mission of Jiva is to bring ‘high quality, authentic Ayurveda to every home’.  Started with a single clinic by Dr Partap Chauhan, today Jiva is a leading and trusted name in Ayurveda.