March 31, 2020
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has noted AYUSH as a source of complementary healthcare solutions in boosting immunity
India’s traditional medicines and healthcare systems help in maintaining optimum health with non-invasive, natural solutions
AYUSH recommends several guidelines and formulations for maintaining respiratory health and curbing seasonal diseases
The Government has budgeted over US$285 million to modernise AYUSH solutions and expand capacity by building new institutions
The Government of India is promoting Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy as a source of supplementary healthcare solutions while the nation fights the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Collectively known as AYUSH, India’s traditional healthcare solutions offer naturally-sourced and non-invasive medicinal and healthcare practices to boost immunity and overall health — a major strength in battling a virus outbreak. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, India has been forwarding information on AYUSH to partner nations around the world. While promoting the benefits of traditional medicines, the Ministry of AYUSH has also been spreading awareness on misinformation and corruption related to traditional medicines to ensure best practices in the space.
Since 2014, the Government of India has been proactively promoting India’s rich heritage of traditional healthcare and medicines, which owing to its growing global demand has helped the nation strengthen ties with foreign nations. The Government has sought to standardize the formulations of these drugs and publish related pharmacopeias to boost confidence in traditional medicines and healthcare practices globally. By breathing a new lease of life into AYUSH, India has attracted numerous key international partnerships across R&D, capacity building, trade, and investment. To drive future activities around AYUSH, the Government of India has budgeted over US$285 million for FY 2020-21 to modernise AYUSH formulations while building new institutions to expand capacity.
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has advised the Ministry to establish a channel of communication with existing AYUSH practitioners and institutions to encourage further research into proposals and potential solutions to restrain the spread of coronavirus in India. Through video conferences held between March 28-30, PM Modi connected with close to a hundred experts and thought leaders from various AYUSH disciplines to discuss steps communicating the immunity-boosting properties of traditional medicine and finding scientific solutions to contain the virus. As the world grows increasingly aware of the need for holistic wellness amid a pandemic, India will be the chosen partner in providing the required knowledge, talent, and resources globally.
While it is explicitly not a treatment for COVID-19, Ayurveda plays a role in improving immunity and maintaining optimum health as a vital preventive measure in these challenging times. The Ministry of AYUSH has recommended several scientific and literature-based guidelines on health measures and boosting immunity, specifically addressing respiratory health needs.