Ayurvedic medicines will soon be available at the government-run health centres in rural areas. Union health ministry plans to open separate counters for ayurvedic medicine in primary healthcare centres, district hospitals and community health centres under the National Rural Health Mission.  

The initiative will be handled by the health ministry's Ayush department, which deals with five Indian systems of medicine, including ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homeopathy.

Speaking to Governance Now, health secretary (Ayush), S. Jalaja said, "We are mainstreaming the health delivery of Ayush under NRHM." Jalaja said the initiative had been delayed due to lack of funds. “We have 3,000 Ayush hospitals and 21,000 Ayush dispensaries. These are in a bad condition and our priority is to revamp these hospitals and dispensaries so that the people can make better use of these services,” she added.

Ayush was launched in 1993 and it focuses on education, research and upgradation of the traditional systems of Indian medicine.

According to Press Trust of India, women and child development minister Krishna Tirath welcomed the move, saying it would give rural women access to a credible alternative.

Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had announced last month that Rs 350 crore would be allocated to strengthen hospitals and dispensaries under this initiative.