Ayush Industry
Introduction:
- Integration of the Ayush Industry into mainstream systems will improve the country’s conventional systems’ acceptance.
- Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy are all abbreviated as AYUSH, and the government created a specific ministry named AYUSH to promote these systems.
Ayush Industry in India:
- India’s traditional AYUSH expertise and well-developed supply chain network would help the export business prosper due to increased demand from overseas markets.
- People all around India could benefit from the Indian Ayush sector, which has the ability to deliver low-cost healthcare. It has all of the characteristics for success in coexisting with modern health systems as a choice-based system of traditional medicine.
- India has experienced huge investments in the AYUSH market due to the world’s belief in traditional Indian medicinal traditions.
Export partners include:
- India’s primary AYUSH export partners include the United Arab Emirates, Russia, the United States, Japan, and a range of other countries across continents.
- The Asia Pacific market is dominated by India, which is expected to grow at an exponential rate over the next five years.
- Furthermore, the Latin American and African markets are expected to grow dramatically, creating opportunities for both Indian AYUSH conglomerates and potential FDI enterprises.
Statistics on the Traditional Medicine Industry:
Globally:
- The global herbal medicine market is expected to be valued $657.5 billion by 2020.
- It is expected to reach $746.9 billion by 2022.
- In 2018, China’s traditional medicine industry brought in $37.41 billion in sales.
- Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) might reach $737.9 billion in China and $737.9 billion globally by 2030, according to the Healthy China 2030 initiative.
India:
- The AYUSH industry was worth less than $3 billion in 2014, but it has since grown to $18 billion and continues to grow.
- The Indian Ayush sector expanded by 17% between 2014 and 2020.
- The industry is anticipated to be valued $23.3 billion in 2022.
- India is anticipated to become a global leader in the wellness industry.
Intervention and Policies by the Government:
National Ayush Mission (NAM):
- It was first presented in 2014 by the Department of Ayush of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that is being implemented by States/UTs for the growth and promotion of the medical systems of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).
- It strives to enhance the number of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries while also ensuring the supply of AYUSH drugs and competent employees.
Component:
- The NAM scheme’s ‘Medicinal Plants’ component (2015–16 to 2020–21) supports the cultivation of prioritised medicinal plants in defined clusters/zones.
- Plant production on farmland, the establishment of nurseries with backward linkages, post-harvest management with forward linkages, primary processing, and commercialization are all covered by the system.
Medicinal Plants State Boards (SMPBs):
- The National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) oversees the medicinal plant component of Ayush, which is carried out by State Medicinal Plant Boards (SMPBs).
The Global Centre for Traditional Medicine:
- India’s Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar.
- This will be the first and only worldwide outpost for traditional medicine in the world.
The central ministry and the AYUSH mark:
- In India, a whole ministry is dedicated to alternative medicine.
- The AYUSH mark will be established in India soon, ensuring the authenticity of the country’s AYUSH products.
- The AYUSH e-marketplace is currently being updated and developed.
- The government is also working to modernise and extend the AYUSH e-market platform, which connects farmers with manufacturers of AYUSH products.
AYUSH Aahar:
- Herbal nutritional supplement makers will benefit from the FSSAI’s new category ‘AYUSH Aahar’ under its regulations.
Visas for Ayush Therapies:
- The announcement by the Centre of providing a special category visa for those seeking AYUSH therapies in India.
Challenges and concerns in the Ayush industry:
- High production costs are a problem for the sector, due to a lack of sufficient infrastructure, local supply chain, and logistics, among other reasons.
- Finance prices are high, good electricity is scarce, design capabilities are limited, and research and development and talent development are underfunded.
Next Steps and Conclusion:
- To promote AYUSH, the slogan “Heal in India” should be employed.
- Growers of therapeutic plants should be encouraged.
- The Ayush industry necessitates a multi-pronged approach that includes institutional initiatives, general knowledge, and farmer promotion of medicinal plant cultivation, as well as trade-related interventions and quality-focused measures.
- Strengthening domestic standards subscriptions, establishing value chain traceability, and building global standards with international standard bodies are some of the actions that may be required for global credibility in the brand AYUSH.
- Foreign trade policy should provide suitable incentives for businesses to actively participate in global markets.
- Additionally, improving corporate R&D would aid the herbal plants and extracts sector’s competitiveness.
