By: Tasaduq Hussain
Srinagar: The Ministry of Ayush Tuesday informed the parliament that a total of 2,224,972 beneficiaries were provided medicines during COVID-19 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir besides a total of 872 Ayush doctors are in position.
The Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal replied to the queries raised in the parliament including the number of doctors working under the National Health Mission (NHM) and the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) and the number of posts of doctors lying vacant and whether medicines have been provided to those doctors since the establishment of these two missions, if so, the details thereof for three years.
Besides, the details of medicines purchased by the Ministry of AYUSH in different States during the entire COVID-19 period and the number of people to whom these Ayurvedic, Homeopathy and Unani medicines were made available, State-wise?.
He informed that under NAM, grant-in-aid has been provided for essential AYUSH medicines for co-located AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) & District Hospitals (DHs) and AYUSH hospitals & dispensaries as per the proposals received from State/UT Governments.
He said that as public health is State subject, the primary responsibility to make available medicines for COVID-19 in the States/UTs come under the purview of respective State/UT Governments.
The Ministry of AYUSH is not purchasing the medicines directly for States/UTs during the COVID-19 period.
The minister said that however, the Ministry of AYUSH has approved Rs. 2271.551 lakhs for procurement of AYUSH 64 medicine by the States/UTs during the COVID-19 period.
About the figures of Jammu and Kashmir, the reply said that a total of 872 doctors of Ayush are in position while only 19 in Ladakh Union Territory. Regarding the approved deployment of doctors under Ayush Health and wellness centers during 2019-20 and 2020-21 include 0 in J&K.
In response to the 50 bedded integrated Ayush hospitals, it said that no doctor has been made available while 3 have been ensured at Up-gradation of Ayush Hospitals. About the funds for procurement of essential Ayush medicines, the Minister said that 244.100 Lakh rupees were approved in the annual year 2018-19 and 342.70 in 2019-20 and 442. 00 rupees between 2020-21. It informed that 395.224 lakh rupees amount was approved by National Ayush Mission for procurement of Ayush 64 medicine.
It also informed that 2224972 beneficiaries were provided Ayurvedic, homeopathic and Unani Medicine during COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir. (KNO)
