Ayush Ministry Advancing Towards Digital And Global Herbal Medicine Leadership: Rajesh Kotecha

The Ministry of Ayush is taking significant strides into the digital landscape, demonstrating its firm commitment to integrating technology with traditional healthcare practices, said Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush.

Recently, the launch of ‘Ayush Grid’ - a comprehensive digital healthcare system - alongside 22 key digital initiatives such as AHMIS, m-Yoga, Y-Break, the Namaste Yoga App, and E-Sanjeevani mobile app marks a major milestone. “This initiative aims to mainstream AYUSH within India’s broader healthcare framework, ensuring wider accessibility and efficiency,” said Kotecha at a three-day workshop organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) on International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH). The three-day event which kicked off from August 6, witnessed participants from countries including Bhutan, Brunei, Cuba, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Paraguay, Poland, Sri Lanka, and Uganda.

In his address, Kotecha also emphasized India’s leadership role in the global herbal medicine sector, highlighting that India is the lead country for WHO-IRCH Working Group 1 (Safety and Regulation) and Working Group 3 (Efficacy and Intended Use). He reaffirmed India’s commitment to enhancing international cooperation in herbal medicine regulation.

Since its elevation to a ministry in 2014, the AYUSH sector has witnessed remarkable growth, with the industry expanding nearly sixfold from USD 2.85 billion (approximately Rs. 21,697 crore) to USD 18.1 billion (around Rs. 1,37,800 crore) over seven years.

The workshop which witnessed participants from countries including Bhutan, Brunei, Cuba, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Paraguay, Poland, Sri Lanka, and Uganda featured detailed presentations on safety, regulation, efficacy, and intended use of herbal medicines among others.

Discussions also focused on clinical trial registration, best practices in clinical research, pharmacovigilance, and the application of WHO’s Global Benchmark Tool for herbal medicines.

However, still there is a long way to go, according to the experts in the sector.

A recent report by the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) notes the National Ayush Mission (NAM) for the Ayush sector faces several challenges. Notably, fund utilization remains suboptimal, with only 85% of allocated funds used in 2022-23. Improving this requires streamlined financial processes and timely fund allocation. Concerns about the quality of herbal medicines, especially high metal content, underline the need for advanced analytical laboratories and robust testing protocols to ensure safety. Enhancing quality control through regular post-marketing surveillance, aligning standards with WHO benchmarks, and establishing effective regulatory frameworks are essential steps forward, as per the report.