Introduction

Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) is a flagship scheme of Ministry of AYUSH approved and notified on 29.09.2014. National AYUSH Mission (NAM) launched during 12th Plan for implementing through States/UTs. The basic objective of NAM is to promote AYUSH medical systems through cost effective AYUSH services, strengthening of educational systems, facilitate the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU &H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU & H raw-materials. It envisages flexibility of implementation of the programmes which will lead to substantial participation of the State Governments/UT. 

Union Cabinet has approved continuation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) on 15.12.2017 from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020. The National AYUSH Mission (NAM) envisages better access to AYUSH services through increase in number of AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries, ensure availability of AYUSH drugs and trained manpower. It also aims at improvement in quality of AYUSH Education through enhancement in the number of upgraded educational Institutions, sustained availability of Quality Raw materials and improved availability of quality Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU & H) drugs through increase in number of Pharmacies, setting up of Drug Laboratories in the states which are responsible for enforcement mechanism of ASU & H drugs.

Further, in the recent past, there is a paradigm shift in the approach from disease management towards achieving wellness. The AYUSH systems advocate holistic wellness approach aiming at prevention of diseases and promotion of health and wellbeing. A decision was taken on 30th Jan, 2019 that at least 12,500 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat will be upgraded by the Ministry of AYUSH. The Union Cabinet during its meeting on 20th March, 2020 has approved the proposal to operationalise these 12,500 AYUSH HWCs through States/UTs in Centrally Sponsored Scheme mode and under the broad umbrella of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) in a phased manner by  2023-24.