The Government of India has intensified efforts to integrate traditional systems of medicine with modern healthcare through a structured policy framework that combines infrastructure expansion, research collaboration and institutional reforms. Led primarily by the Ministry of Ayush in partnership with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the strategy focuses on creating a unified healthcare ecosystem where patients can access multiple medical systems through a single platform.
At the centre of the initiative is the policy of co-location of Ayush services at Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and District Hospitals. The move allows patients to choose between modern medicine and traditional systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, Yoga and Naturopathy within the same facility. Under this model, the National Health Mission supports the engagement and training of Ayush doctors and paramedics, while infrastructure, equipment and medicines are funded through the National Ayush Mission. Officials describe the arrangement as a shared responsibility between the two ministries aimed at strengthening public healthcare delivery while widening treatment choices.
A key institutional development has been the creation of an Ayush vertical under the Directorate General of Health Services. The vertical functions as a dedicated mechanism for planning, monitoring and supervising Ayush related public health programmes. It also provides technical support to both ministries in areas such as healthcare strategy, training and medical education. Health policy experts believe this structure is intended to move the integration process from isolated pilot projects to a long term national framework.
The government has also established integrated Ayush departments in central government hospitals to promote evidence-based integrative medicine. The Department of Integrative Medicine is already operational at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital and at Lady Hardinge Medical College. These departments aim to develop treatment protocols that combine modern medicine with traditional therapies in areas such as chronic diseases, rehabilitation and preventive care.
The expansion of integrative services is being driven largely through the National Ayush Mission. The scheme supports state governments through annual action plans and provides financial assistance for a wide range of activities. These include the operationalisation of Ayush Health and Wellness Centres, now renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush), the upgradation of standalone government Ayush hospitals and the establishment of new dispensaries in areas where services are not currently available. The mission also funds the construction of integrated Ayush hospitals with 10, 30 and 50 beds, the supply of essential drugs and the development of undergraduate and postgraduate Ayush education infrastructure.
Officials say the programme goes beyond infrastructure and is also focusing on public awareness. State governments are being supported to carry out behaviour change communication and information campaigns that highlight the preventive and lifestyle based strengths of traditional systems of medicine. These campaigns use mass media platforms to promote practices such as yoga based preventive care, diet based interventions and holistic wellness.
At the research level, several councils and national institutes under the Ministry of Ayush are working with mainstream medical institutions to test the effectiveness of integrative treatment models. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences has conducted operational studies on integrating Ayurveda with modern medicine in tertiary care hospitals, including research on osteoarthritis management at Safdarjung Hospital. The council is also collaborating with the Indian Council of Medical Research to establish advanced centres for integrative health research at national institutions such as AIIMS.
Similar initiatives are underway across other research councils. The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy and the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine have established co-located treatment centres in allopathic hospitals, while the Central Council for Research in Siddha is conducting clinical trials to validate the effectiveness of Siddha therapies alongside modern treatments. Meanwhile, the Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy is participating in multi centric studies on heart failure as part of national research initiatives.
One of the most significant institutions in this effort is the All India Institute of Ayurveda, where several centres for integrative therapy are already operational. These include departments focused on cancer care, orthopaedics, nutrition, dentistry and critical care. Integrated services are also being extended through collaborative units at major institutions such as AIIMS Jhajjar and other teaching hospitals.
Beyond domestic reforms, the government is also pushing for global recognition of traditional medicine through the Promotion of International Cooperation for Ayush scheme. The initiative supports Indian manufacturers and service providers, promotes academic collaborations and facilitates the establishment of Ayush academic chairs in foreign universities. According to official data, the programme has already resulted in dozens of country level agreements and institutional partnerships.
Health analysts note that the integration of Ayush with modern medicine represents a shift from parallel healthcare systems to a more coordinated approach. While challenges remain in terms of scientific validation, clinical standardisation and regulatory oversight, policymakers believe the current strategy could significantly expand access to affordable and preventive healthcare. If implemented effectively, the integration model could reshape the way public health services are delivered in India over the coming decade.
