New Delhi, February 5: Integrating AYUSH with modern medicine can strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This statement was made by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, on Thursday.
While addressing the third day of the World Governments Summit in Dubai, UAE, she emphasized the need to shift health systems from a treatment-centric approach to one focused on prevention and long-term wellness.
During the session titled “From Policy to Practice: Investing in the Future of Integrative Medicine,” Patel highlighted the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, mental health issues, and lifestyle-related illnesses due to urbanization, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and chronic stress. She noted that a treatment-based system is no longer sufficient.
Patel stated, “Coordination of AYUSH systems with modern medicine and public health frameworks is a strategic pathway to building a robust, preventive, and people-centered health ecosystem. This approach aligns with the goals of Universal Health Coverage.”
The minister also underscored India’s policy-driven and system-oriented approach to integrative healthcare. She explained that India has played a leading role in systematically integrating its rich traditional medical systems with modern scientific medicine, transforming ancient knowledge into evidence-based, scalable public health models.
According to the World Health Organization, traditional medicine systems are culturally accepted in 88% of member countries worldwide.
In a prior media interview, Anupriya Patel mentioned that integrative healthcare has been institutionalized in India. The National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 provides a strong foundation for integrated health services in the country.
She detailed that this model is implemented at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of health services. At the primary level, AYUSH services, including yoga and wellness, are provided across the nation through Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs.
AYUSH blocks operate at the secondary level, while dedicated integrative healthcare units are being established in national institutions at the tertiary level. Additionally, traditional medicine has been incorporated into the medical education system.