The Centre has operationalised 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Ayush) across the country by upgrading existing Ayush dispensaries and sub-health centres under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), the Ministry of Ayush informed Parliament on July 21.

According to the government, the network comprises 10,941 upgraded Ayush dispensaries and 1,559 sub-health centres. State and Union Territory governments have reported that all approved facilities are now functional.

The Ministry said that ₹1,872.71 crore was allocated and released under the National Ayush Mission during the past two financial years, of which ₹1,802.15 crore has been utilised by states and Union Territories.

As part of efforts to improve access to traditional systems of medicine, the government has expanded the co-location of Ayush services with public healthcare institutions. Official data from the National Health Mission's Medical Information System, as of December 31, 2025, shows that Ayush facilities have been integrated into 6,302 Primary Health Centres, 3,191 Community Health Centres and 475 District Hospitals across the country.

Under this model, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare supports the deployment and training of Ayush doctors and paramedical staff through the National Health Mission, while the Ministry of Ayush provides infrastructure, equipment, furniture and medicines under the National Ayush Mission.

The government also highlighted initiatives to promote medicinal plant cultivation through the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB). The centrally sponsored programme supports conservation of medicinal plants, farmer awareness campaigns, research and development, post-harvest infrastructure, quality planting material, testing and certification, and market linkages aimed at strengthening the medicinal plant supply chain.

On the regulatory front, the Ministry said multiple measures are in place to ensure the quality of Ayurvedic medicines. Manufacturers are required to comply with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs Rules, 1945, including adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices and prescribed pharmacopoeial standards.

Drug inspectors routinely collect samples from manufacturers and retail outlets for laboratory testing. Products found to be below prescribed quality standards are subject to regulatory action, including withdrawal from the market and legal proceedings where necessary.

The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) continues to develop official standards for Ayurvedic medicines and serves as the appellate drug testing laboratory. It also conducts training programmes for regulators and drug analysts to strengthen quality assurance systems.

According to the Ministry, 118 private laboratories and 34 state and Union Territory drug testing laboratories are currently recognised to test Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Unani medicines.

In addition, the Centre is implementing the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) to help Ayush pharmacies and drug testing laboratories improve quality standards. Other initiatives include regulatory oversight through the Ayush Vertical in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Quality Council of India's certification programme, which awards Ayush Standard Mark and Ayush Premium Mark certifications based on compliance with prescribed quality benchmarks.

Besides, the Ayush Quality Mark Programme, launched on December 19, 2025, was intended to strengthen quality assurance and enhance the international recognition of Ayush products, according to Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.