Union Minister of State for Ayush, Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh proposing the establishment of Ayush outpatient departments and Ayush-based treatment services across Military and Field Hospitals, according to an official statement released on Wednesday, 22 July. The proposal marks a formal push to embed India's traditional medicine systems into the healthcare infrastructure serving the country's armed forces.

What the Proposal Entails

In his letter, Jadhav pointed out that many military and field hospitals currently lack dedicated Ayush services. He argued that opening such departments would give soldiers greater access to evidence-based traditional healthcare, particularly in the areas of preventive care, lifestyle management, rehabilitation, and overall well-being. The proposal envisions Ayush services complementing — not replacing — the existing modern medical framework to create a more comprehensive, patient-centric model of care for defence personnel.

Ministry's Offer of Support

Jadhav conveyed that the Ministry of Ayush is fully prepared to extend technical support, professional guidance, and institutional cooperation to facilitate implementation. This includes the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the defence establishment to formalise the arrangement. The initiative, if approved, would also advance the broader government objective of integrating India's traditional medical heritage with public healthcare delivery systems.

Regulatory Strengthening of Ayush Drugs

Separately, the government has also been tightening quality assurance and regulatory compliance for Ayush drugs — including those sold on e-commerce platforms — through a series of measures and schemes. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 provide exclusive regulatory provisions for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani, and Homoeopathy drugs, requiring manufacturers to meet licensing conditions before products can be sold. The Ministry has also launched the Ayush Suraksha Portal for real-time reporting and monitoring of misleading advertisements and suspected adverse drug reactions.

Context and Significance

The Armed Forces Medical Services already operate a robust modern medical infrastructure catering to soldiers deployed across diverse and often challenging operational environments. Proponents of the integration argue that traditional systems such as Ayurveda and Yoga offer particular value in preventive and promotive healthcare — areas where conventional medicine is sometimes less focused. This comes amid a wider government effort to mainstream Ayush across public institutions, including hospitals, wellness centres, and educational bodies. If the Defence Ministry approves the proposal, military hospitals could become one of the most high-profile settings yet for institutionalised Ayush care in India.