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.