New Delhi [India], July 29 (ANI): In a concerted effort to advance scientific research within traditional medicine systems, the Ministry of Ayush has established several independent apex research councils. These include the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), and the Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN).
These councils focus on key research domains such as clinical research, medicinal plant studies—including medico-ethno botanical surveys, pharmacognosy, and cultivation—drug standardization, pharmacological research, and literary research and documentation. Collaborative projects are conducted in partnership with universities, hospitals, and research institutes to bolster the scientific foundation of Ayush systems.
In addition to core research, the councils also engage in extensive extension activities. These include delivering healthcare services through Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) and In-Patient Departments (IPDs), operating special clinics for geriatric care, and executing outreach initiatives such as the Tribal Health Care Research Programme (THCRP), Swasthya Rakshan Programme, and the Ayurveda Mobile Health Care Programme under the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP).
To further incentivize research and innovation, the Ministry has implemented the Central Sector Scheme titled “AYURGYAN.” Through this scheme, financial assistance is extended to government and private medical, scientific, and research and development institutions, as well as university departments, to support projects in priority areas of Ayush.
In the field of Unani medicine, CCRUM has initiated multiple collaborations to integrate Unani with evidence-based medical practices. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with premier institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Hamdard, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER), the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (Hyderabad), Anna University (Chennai), the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (Srinagar), among others.
The CCRS is currently operating an Integrated Siddha OPD for cancer patients at the All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi and has also established a Siddha Clinical Research Unit at Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, to support palliative cancer care using the Siddha system.
Meanwhile, the CCRH is working toward integrating homoeopathy into mainstream healthcare by collaborating on integrative medicine research with institutions like AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Jhajjar (Haryana), and various state and private homoeopathic medical colleges. Homoeopathic treatment is being provided in several allopathic hospitals for a variety of clinical conditions.
These initiatives reflect the Ministry of Ayush’s continued commitment to evidence-based development and the integration of traditional medicine systems with modern healthcare frameworks. (ANI)
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