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The Ministry of AYUSH has announced a mechanism to support short-term research projects for evaluating the impact of AYUSH interventions/ medicines in the prophylaxis and clinical management of Covid-19.

Hospitals or Institutions involved in the management of Covid-19 cases have been invited to participate in the scheme which falls under the extramural (for those outside the AYUSH Ministry establishment) research category.

“The proposals should be related to evaluating the role and impact of AYUSH interventions/medicines in the prophylaxis and clinical management of SARS-CoV-2 infection and Covid-19 disease,” it said in a statement.

Project proposals of a maximum of six months duration with Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) clearance will be considered for financial support up to Rs ten lakh to meet the expenditure on engaging AYUSH clinicians, technical manpower, laboratory investigations and related contingencies.

The details including eligibility criteria, mode for submission of application, application form are available ministry website ‘ayush.gov.in.’

The application will be received only through email (emrayushcovid19@gmail.com). The last date of receipt of application is May 1, 2020.

Till recently, there was no specific regulatory provision in the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules 1945 for clinical trials of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy drugs. The Ministry the other day issued a gazette notification giving nod to conduct of research and clinical trials.

“Indian Traditional Medicines have wide potential for usage in such conditions owing to their longstanding use in the community, huge number of ancient references and large number of publications in scientific journals on their phyto-chemical constituents, mode of action, clinical efficacy etc. At the same time, it is also essential to have scientific evidence on use of any Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha or Homeopathy formulation on prevention/ management of Covid-19. Therefore, it is felt necessary to make serious efforts for the development of drugs based on any of the AYUSH systems recognized under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940,” the notification read.

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