|
The Parliamentary Panel on Health and Family Welfare has recommended to the Ministry of Ayush to identify priority partner countries and develop targeted collaboration frameworks focusing on joint research projects, clinical studies and capacity building initiatives in traditional medicines to promote international cooperation of Ayush system.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, in its 174th report on Demands for Grants 2026-27 of the Ministry of Ayush, appreciated the diplomatic outreach under the International Cooperation Scheme, including the signing of 27 bilateral MoUs, establishment of 15 Ayush Academic Chairs, and operationalisation of 43 Ayush Information Cells across 43 countries.
However, the momentum of global recognition should be sustained through structured and outcome oriented engagement.
"The Committee therefore recommends the Ministry to identify priority partner countries and develop targeted collaboration frameworks focusing on joint research projects, academic exchanges, clinical studies and capacity-building initiatives in traditional medicine so as to deepen scientific engagement and strengthen institutional linkages," said he Panel headed by Member of Parliament Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav.
It further recommended instituting a structured performance assessment mechanism with periodic country-wise outcome reports to evaluate the operational status of MoUs, academic output of Chairs and the functional impact of Ayush Information Cells.
Observing that there has been a consistent increase in allocation under the Scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation, it appreciated the Ministry for its sustained efforts for scaling of activity with substantial increased allocation particularly the execution of the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the constitution of the BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine to facilitate cooperation among seven countries including India, Sri Lanka Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Nepal to develop and harmonize traditional medicine systems.
It also appreciated India’s digital initiatives, including the Aysuh Grid and AI-based innovations have received recognition at the WHO level, thereby reinforcing India’s leadership in integrating traditional medicine with emerging technologies.
However, these gains need consolidation and sustained further through recently launched Ayush Global Portal. The Panel has also reviewed the Ayush Global Portal and the information available for the users on real time basis finding that Ayush Global Portal has not been much encouraging as the country specific information is not updated including for India and lacks user friendly interface.
"The Committee, therefore, recommends for strengthening of Ayush Global Portal to enhance global visibility, interoperability and access to authentic services," it added.
It also recommended that the Ministry leverage the proposed digital interface to facilitate international collaboration, knowledge exchange and global access to authentic Ayush services including tele-consultation, academic partnerships and dissemination of evidence-based resources. Such an integrated platform would enhance India’s soft power in traditional medicine while improving transparency, accessibility and global engagement with Ayush systems.
The Ministry informed the Committee that the budget allocation for the International Cooperation scheme has been seeing an increase. As against the actual expenditure of Rs. 103.86 crore in 2024-25, an amount of Rs. 136 crore was allocated for 2025-26, which was subsequently revised to Rs. 142 crore at the Revised Estimate stage. The increase in allocation at the RE stage in 2025-26 was primarily to meet the additional financial requirement of Rs. 15.10 crore for organizing the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.
During the year 2025, the Ministry has established three Ayush Information Cells in Belarus, Muscat, and Slovakia and signed two country-to-country agreements with Angola and Kazakhstan. Five institute level MoUs were signed with Indonesia, USA, Ghana, Magnolia, and Cuba, it added.
Apart from multinational cooperation in traditional medicine with international forums including BRICS and G20, in the Free Trade Agreement with European Union and New Zealand, traditional medicine has been incorporated which will enable the traditional medicine practitioners to practice Ayurveda and yoga in those countries, added the Ministry.
|