National AYUSH Mission

Key Points

• Launched: 2014
• Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH
• Nature: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) implemented through States/UTs.
• Coverage: AYUSH — Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.
• Core idea: Strengthen AYUSH healthcare infrastructure and integrate AYUSH services with the public health system.
• Important approach: Co-location of AYUSH facilities at PHCs, CHCs and District Hospitals, giving patients an informed choice among different systems of medicine.
• Current status: Under NAM, 12,500 AYUSH dispensaries/sub-health centres have been upgraded into Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush), and all were reported operational by December 2025.
• Between 2014–15 and 2024–25, NAM supported 203 integrated AYUSH hospitals, upgraded 518 AYUSH hospitals and 6,234 dispensaries, and supported co-location at 2,387 PHCs, 746 CHCs and 319 District Hospitals.

Components of National AYUSH Mission

NAM broadly has four mandatory/core components:

AYUSH Services

The component focuses on expanding access to AYUSH healthcare through:

• Upgradation of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries.
• Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush).
• Co-location of AYUSH facilities at PHCs, CHCs and District Hospitals.
• Establishment of integrated AYUSH hospitals.
• Provision of essential AYUSH medicines.

AYUSH Educational Institutions

It aims to strengthen the quality and infrastructure of AYUSH medical education through upgradation of existing institutions and support for new institutions.

Quality Control of AYUSH Drugs

This component focuses on improving the quality, safety and standardisation of AYUSH medicines through:

• State AYUSH drug-testing laboratories.
• Upgradation of AYUSH pharmacies.
• Drug-control mechanisms.
• Quality standards and testing facilities.

Medicinal Plants

It promotes the cultivation and sustainable availability of medicinal plants, including Good Agricultural Practices and better post-harvest management.

Flexible Components

NAM also provides a flexible component through which States/UTs can support activities according to their local requirements. These include:

• AYUSH Wellness Centres
• Yoga & Naturopathy
• Telemedicine
• Sports Medicine through AYUSH
• Innovation and PPPs
• IEC activities
• Research & Development related to medicinal plants.

Upgrading AYUSH Dispensaries under NAM

AYUSH Health Infrastructure

• 12,500 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres, now called Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush), have been approved.
• These were created by upgrading 10,941 AYUSH dispensaries + 1,559 Sub-Health Centres.
• As reported by States/UTs, all 12,500 centres are functional.
• ₹1,872.71 crore was allocated/released during the last two financial years, of which ₹1,802.15 crore was utilised.

Co-location of AYUSH Facilities

·       The Government has adopted a co-location approach, allowing patients to access different systems of medicine through a single-window healthcare facility.

·       As per the NHM-MIS database as of 31 December 2025, AYUSH facilities have been co-located in 6,302 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 3,191 Community Health Centres (CHCs), and 475 District Hospitals (DHs) across the country.

·       Responsibility is shared:

o   MoHFW/NHM: AYUSH doctors, paramedics and their training.

o   Ministry of AYUSH/NAM: Infrastructure, equipment, furniture and medicines.

Medicinal Plants (NMPB): The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) implements the Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants.”

Major Activities

• IEC: Training, workshops, seminars and conferences.
• Conservation: In-situ and ex-situ conservation.
• Livelihood Linkages: JFMCs, Panchayats, Van Panchayats, BMCs and SHGs.
• Research & Development
• Promotion, marketing and trade of medicinal-plant produce.
• Supply-chain development: Quality planting material, post-harvest management, marketing, value addition and certification.

The scheme links medicinal-plant conservation with livelihood generation and development of the medicinal-plant supply chain.

Quality Control of Ayurvedic Medicines

Regulatory Framework

• Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 contain specific regulatory provisions for Ayurvedic drugs.
• Manufacturers must comply with licensing requirements, safety and efficacy requirements and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) under Schedule T.
• Drugs must meet standards prescribed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia.

Testing Mechanism

• Drug Inspectors collect samples from manufacturing units and markets.
• Samples are sent to Drug Testing Laboratories.
• If a medicine is found “Not of Standard Quality”, appropriate action can be taken, including stopping its sale and initiating legal action.

Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H)

• Develops pharmacopoeial standards and formulary specifications for Ayurvedic drugs.
• These standards determine the identity, purity and strength of medicines.
• It also functions as the Appellate Drug Testing Laboratory for Ayurvedic drugs.
• Conducts capacity-building programmes for Drug Regulatory Authorities, Drug Analysts and other stakeholders.

Drug Testing Laboratories

Under the relevant regulatory framework, 118 private laboratories and 34 State/UT Drug Testing Laboratories are currently functional. These laboratories assess the identity, purity, quality and strength of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Unani medicines.

AOGUSY

Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) supports AYUSH pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories in improving their quality standards.

Quality Certification

AYUSH Vertical in CDSCO

• Strengthens regulatory oversight.
• Supports joint inspections with State/UT licensing authorities.
• Facilitates WHO Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (WHO-CoPP) for eligible AYUSH drugs.

QCI Quality Certification Scheme: It provides the AYUSH Standard Mark and AYUSH Premium Mark to AYUSH products that meet prescribed quality standards based on third-party assessment and certification.

Ayush Quality Mark Programme

• It Launched on 19 December 2025.
• Aims: to strengthen quality assurance and enhance the global recognition of AYUSH products.

FAQs

1. What is the National AYUSH Mission?
Ans: NAM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2014 to strengthen AYUSH healthcare infrastructure, services, education, drug quality and medicinal-plant development.

2. What are the major components of NAM?
Ans: The major components are AYUSH Services, AYUSH Educational Institutions, Quality Control of AYUSH Drugs and Medicinal Plants.

3. What is the co-location approach under NAM?
Ans: NAM supports the co-location of AYUSH facilities at PHCs, CHCs and District Hospitals, allowing patients to access different systems of medicine at a single healthcare facility.

4. What is the role of medicinal plants under NAM?
Ans: NAM promotes the cultivation, conservation, processing, marketing and sustainable management of medicinal plants, while also creating livelihood opportunities for farmers and local communities.

5. How does NAM ensure the quality of AYUSH medicines?
Ans: It supports drug-testing laboratories, quality-control mechanisms, standardisation and certification to improve the safety, quality and reliability of AYUSH medicines.