Public Health Programs under Ministry of AYUSH
Nodal Authority: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
Implementing Agencies:
- Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)
- Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH)
- Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)
- Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS)
- National Institutes of AYUSH Systems
What Are AYUSH Public Health Programs?
Public Health Programs under AYUSH are government-supported initiatives that use Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy to improve the health and wellness of Indian citizens.
They focus on disease prevention, health promotion, and community outreach — integrating traditional systems with modern healthcare to make wellness accessible to all.
In simple words:
These programs bring Ayurveda, Yoga, and natural healing methods directly to villages, schools, offices, and public health centres.
Objectives
| Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| Promote Preventive Healthcare | Encourage healthy lifestyle practices based on AYUSH principles. |
| Reach Rural & Urban Populations | Deliver AYUSH care through PHCs, CHCs, and mobile units. |
| Integrate AYUSH with National Health Mission (NHM) | Combine modern medicine and traditional healing for better outcomes. |
| Encourage Yoga & Mindfulness | Improve mental and physical health through yoga in schools and workplaces. |
| Control & Manage Common Diseases | Use AYUSH therapies for lifestyle disorders like diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis. |
3. Major Public Health Programs under AYUSH
| Program / Scheme | Implemented By | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres (AHWCs) | Ministry of AYUSH under Ayushman Bharat | Provide AYUSH-based primary healthcare, yoga therapy, and herbal medicine at village level. |
| National AYUSH Mission (NAM) | Ministry of AYUSH | Infrastructure development, AYUSH dispensaries, hospital upgradation, and AYUSH education. |
| Integration with National Health Mission (NHM) | MoHFW & Ministry of AYUSH | Mainstreaming AYUSH practitioners into public health systems. |
| School Health Program (Yoga & Ayurveda Awareness) | CCRAS / NCERT collaboration | Introduce yoga, diet, and healthy habits in schools. |
| AYUSH Gram Program | CCRAS | Develop model villages promoting AYUSH lifestyle and herbal gardens. |
| Swasthya Rakshan Program (SRP) | CCRAS | Conduct health camps, screenings, and disease prevention campaigns. |
| Public Health Outreach (PHO) | CCRH / CCRUM | Awareness and treatment camps for chronic and epidemic diseases. |
| Yoga for Public Health Initiative | Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) | Promote yoga in community and workplaces. |
| Homoeopathy for Mother and Child Health (MCH) | CCRH | Improve maternal and child health using homeopathy. |
| Unani Public Health Projects | CCRUM | Awareness and treatment programs for anemia, diabetes, and lifestyle diseases. |
4. Key Components
- Community Health Outreach Camps
- Conducted in rural and slum areas.
- Free AYUSH checkups and medicine distribution.
- AYUSH Wellness Centres
- Located within PHCs and CHCs.
- Offer Panchakarma, Yoga, and herbal consultations.
- Health Promotion Programs
- Campaigns on diet, lifestyle, seasonal care, and stress management.
- Training of Health Workers
- Orientation programs for AYUSH doctors, ASHA workers, and ANMs.
- IEC Activities (Information, Education, Communication)
- Pamphlets, TV/radio campaigns, school lectures, and AYUSH fairs.
5. Integration with Modern Health Systems
AYUSH systems are now part of India’s National Health Mission (NHM) —
This means:
- AYUSH doctors work in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs).
- AYUSH therapies are available alongside allopathic medicine.
- AYUSH wellness corners exist in major hospitals for holistic care.
Achievements So Far
More than 12,000 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres operational.
Over 1 crore beneficiaries under Swasthya Rakshan and outreach programs.
AYUSH integrated into over 12 states’ health departments.
Yoga in Schools Initiative adopted by CBSE and NCERT.
Widespread community adoption of AYUSH preventive care post-COVID.
Public Awareness & Training
- Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month) and Ayurveda Day observed nationwide.
- AYUSH Health Melas organized in districts.
- Free Yoga Camps in schools, police departments, and offices.
- Training sessions for health volunteers and AYUSH nurses.
Who Benefits
| Beneficiary Type | How They Benefit |
|---|---|
| Citizens | Access free or low-cost AYUSH health services in villages and cities. |
| Rural Communities | Mobile AYUSH units and village health camps improve accessibility. |
| Students & Youth | School health programs promote yoga, hygiene, and healthy eating. |
| AYUSH Practitioners | Employment and participation in public programs under NAM and NHM. |
| Teachers & NGOs | Training in community wellness and preventive care. |
Institutions & Councils Involved
| Organization | Function |
|---|---|
| CCRAS | Implements Swasthya Rakshan & AYUSH Gram programs. |
| CCRH | Manages homeopathy outreach and MCH projects. |
| CCRUM | Runs Unani health awareness and treatment camps. |
| CCRS | Focuses on Siddha health camps and herbal awareness. |
| MDNIY | Leads Yoga training and public participation drives. |
| National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune | Conducts natural living and wellness programs. |
Who’s Who (Key Officials)
| Designation | Officer Name | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH | Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha | Overall policy and program supervision |
| Joint Secretary (Public Health) | Dr. Manoj Nesari | Program coordination and state-level integration |
| Director General, CCRAS | Dr. Rabinarayan Acharya | Public Health research and outreach programs |
| Director General, CCRH | Dr. Subhas Singh | Homeopathy public health projects |
| Director General, CCRUM | Dr. Anil Khurana | Unani outreach and disease prevention |
| Director General, CCRS | Dr. V. Rajasekaran | Siddha health promotion and awareness |
| Director, MDNIY | Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi | Yoga for public health and education |
Funding Source
All public health programs are funded through:
- National AYUSH Mission (NAM) grants
- Centrally Sponsored Schemes
- Collaborations with State AYUSH Directorates and NHM
- CSR partnerships and international collaborations (WHO / UNICEF projects)
Contact & Grievance Redressal
Public Health Division, Ministry of AYUSH
📍 AYUSH Bhawan, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi – 110023
📧 Email: publichealth-ayush@gov.in / nam-ayush@gov.in
📞 Helpline: 011-24651964 / 011-23340023
🌐 Website: https://ayush.gov.in
For Grievances or Complaints:
🖥️ Visit https://pgportal.gov.in → Select Ministry of AYUSH → “Public Health / NAM.”
Related Links
- National AYUSH Mission (NAM): https://namayush.gov.in
- AYUSH Research Portal: https://ayushportal.nic.in
- Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga: https://yogamdniy.nic.in
