Even as the Centre is yet to include the old systems of medicine (AYUSH) in its biggest medical insurance policy (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna), Union Minister Mahesh Sharma, who also happens to be an allopathic doctor, vouched on Sunday for its efficacy saying that through alternate system of medicine, it is possible to take the Ayushman Bharat scheme to over six lakh villages across the States.
During the inaugural session of the two-day national seminar on ‘Entrepreneurship and Business Development in Ayurveda’, Sharma said, “Through Ayurveda, it is possible to take Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ayushman Bharat scheme to over six lakh villages of the country.”
Sharma also hoped that the AYUSH Ministry can make significant contribution to the economy of the country by expanding existing market of Ayurveda and AYUSH products and therapies. The ministry has aimed to expand the current size of Ayurveda and AYUSH business of around USD 3 billion to USD 10 billion by 2022.
Earlier, Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik said that the ancient Scriptures of Ayurveda have at least 1.25 lakhs formulations which are collected in Traditional knowledge Digital Library. Each one of these formulations can be used to treat 20 to 30 different diseases. In this way we have 20 lakh medicines which is an incredible and unimaginable figure for entrepreneurs, he said.
In, fact, the Ministry has already initiated pilot projects in few districts to integrate traditional healing by using medicinal herbs with Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in hospitals. “The aim is to show efficacy of herbal drugs to treat non-communicable diseases like diabetes and thyroid. We have drugs like BGR-34 developed by scientific bodies such as CSIR to treat diabetes cases which is on increase,” said a senior official on the sidelines of the event.
CEO of Niti Ayog Amitabh Kant too pitched for providing platform to Ayush which, he said, is “the best and purest” source of rejuvenation and there exists a “great opportunity” to create knowledge and business based on it.
Rajiv Vasudevan who heads Bangalore-based AyurVaid, a chain of Ayurveda in-patient hospitals focused on medical management of serious chronic diseases said that going back to basics of authentic ayurveda treatment and leveraging its capabilities comprehensively is an imperative. He also called for inclusion of AYUSH in the PMJAY to reach out to the people in the country.