National Ayush Mission
National AYUSH Mission is a Centraly Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of AYUSH. Government of India has launched National AYUSH Mission (NAM) during the 12th plan in 2014. In Kerala, NAM started activities in 2015. The aims of NAM are to main-stream AYUSH Systems into health care services, to develop evidence-based AYUSH management protocol through scientific documentation and to ensure the accessibility of quality AYUSH services. Regarding the funding pattern, 60% share is provided by the Central Government and 40% is provided by the State Government. NAM is supporting four line departments under the AYUSH department in the State and also supports ASU&H drug sector and Medicinal plant cultivation through State Medicinal Plant Board. It is running a variety of projects on health care in AYUSH streams and supports institutions under the AYUSH department by various means. For the year 2021-2022 the State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) is been proposed for Rs.35 Crores.
Structure
State level : NAM is functioning under State AYUSH Health Society which is regulated by a Governing Body with Chief Secretary as Chairperson and Secretary, AYUSH as Member Secretary. The Executive Committee under this society, with Secretary, AYUSH as Chairperson and State Mission Director (SMD), NAM as Member Secretary, is managing routine activities. NAM has State Program Management and Supporting Unit (SPMSU) functioning under State Mission Director who is an IAS officer. State level functions are co-ordinated by two State Program Managers, one each from Ayurveda and Homoeopathy.
District level : District Program Management and Supporting Unit (DPMSU) is managed by District Program Managers (DPM). In the Governing Body of District AYUSH Health Society, President of concerned District Panchayath is the Chairperson & District Collector is the Co-chairperson and DPM NAM is the Member Secretary. Executive Committee of District AYUSH Health Society is chaired by District Collector and NAM DPM is the Member Secretary.
Major activities
Upgradation of AYUSH institutions : Upgradation of AYUSH educational institutions, AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, State Govt. ASU&H Pharmacies & Drug Testing Laboratories by providing HR support, infrastructure development and improving the functions by quality standardization. 1,655 institutions under ISM and Homoeopathy departments are getting supports under this scheme.
Human Resource support (HR) : NAM has deployed 797 HR of which 270 are doctors and 527 are paramedics. Major share of HR is for ISM and Homoeopathy departments. 528 staff are working in various hospitals and 269 are part of various projects run by NAM. A total of 166 hospitals are provided with HR support.
Infrastructure development : NAM has undertaken 77 civil works, out of which 50 have been completed and remaining are under progress. Major civil works for two 50, bedded integrated AYUSH Hospitals with exclusive funding by NAM for Rs. 9 crores each, is progressing at Chalakkudy and Mattannur. Other infrastructure development works are done at existing hospitals/dispensaries under AYUSH.
Quality standardization : NAM has started quality standards accreditation of AYUSH institutions for improving the overall functioning to meet future health challenges. As of now 6 institutions have upgraded to KASH AYUSH standards.
AYUSH Health and Wellness Centers (HWC) : AYUSH dispensaries under ISM and Homoeopathy departments are converted as AYUSH HWCs under AYUSHMAN BHARATH Scheme. Govt. of India is aiding this scheme for providing Infrastructure development, Yoga demonstrators, medicinal plant garden, incentives, capacity building, IT networking etc. Kerala has given a target of 600 AYUSH HWCs and it is to be expected to be achieved by 2023-24.
