Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana: Pharmacovigilance of ASU&H Drugs Including Surveillance of Misleading Advertisements

The Ministry of Ayush runs a pharmacovigilance programme for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs under the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana. The scheme monitors adverse drug reactions and tracks misleading advertisements of traditional medicines across India. As of August 2026, the programme operates through a three-tier centre network and a dedicated digital portal called Ayush Suraksha.

The initiative collects, collates, and analyses safety data from healthcare providers, patients, and regulatory bodies. It builds a national database of suspected adverse effects and helps authorities take action against false or misleading claims made in print and electronic media. The Ministry of Ayush also launched the Ayush Suraksha Portal in May 2025 to make reporting easier for citizens and professionals alike.

Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana: Pharmacovigilance of ASU&H Drugs Including Surveillance of Misleading Advertisements

The pharmacovigilance scheme started in 2021 as a Central Sector Scheme. Its main aim is to create a culture of documenting adverse drug reactions among consumers and practitioners of ASU&H systems. The programme works alongside the National Pharmacovigilance Programme of India to ensure patient safety and build scientific evidence around the clinical safety of traditional medicines.

All reported cases flow through Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centres to Intermediary Centres and finally to the National Pharmacovigilance Coordination Centre at the All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi. From there, data reaches the Drug Policy Section of the Ministry of Ayush for review and action.

The Ayush Suraksha Portal, launched on 30 May 2025 by Union Minister of State Shri Prataprao Jadhav, provides a direct digital channel for citizens to report misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions. The portal was built in response to a Supreme Court order dated 30 July 2024, which directed the government to set up a centralized system for tracking such complaints. The platform integrates with multiple regulatory authorities including CDSCO, FSSAI, State Licensing Authorities, NCISM, NCH, PCI, and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

Benefits

The scheme delivers several public health and regulatory benefits:

• Public Health Safety: Creates a national infrastructure to monitor the safety profile of ASU&H drugs and catch harmful side effects early.
• Advertising Oversight: Strengthens regulatory scrutiny against false or misleading medical claims in print and electronic media through the Ayush Suraksha Portal.
• Evidence Generation: Produces scientific data from real-world use to support safe clinical practices and shape regulatory policy.
• Financial Support: Provides funds to National, Intermediary, and Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centres for staff costs, awareness campaigns, and day-to-day operations.
• Capacity Building: Offers resources for training programmes and workshops for healthcare professionals involved in drug safety monitoring.

Eligibility

Criteria for Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centres (PPvCs)

Institutions seeking to join the pharmacovigilance network must meet these requirements:

• Recognized Ayush teaching hospitals operating under the NCISM, NCH, IMCC, or HCC Acts.
• Government-run ASU&H healthcare facilities or research council institutions.
• NABH accredited facilities.
• Proven technical capacity, adequate infrastructure, and trained staff to monitor and report drug safety data.
• Previous central funding beneficiaries must have submitted valid utilization certificates with no adverse records.

Application Process

STEP 1 - Institutions interested in joining the pharmacovigilance network must prepare a concept note and detailed research proposal. The head of the institution must endorse the proposal before submission.

STEP 2 - Submit the endorsed proposal to the relevant Intermediary Pharmacovigilance Centre (IPvC). Five IPvCs are designated across national institutes of Ayush to receive and review applications.

STEP 3 - The IPvC reviews the documents and forwards them to the National Pharmacovigilance Co-ordination Centre (NPvCC) at the All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi.

STEP 4 - A committee under the Ministry of Ayush evaluates the proposal and provides final sanction. Funding is released in stages based on verified progress reports and audited expenditure statements.

Reporting Through Ayush Suraksha Portal

Any citizen, patient, or healthcare professional can report adverse drug reactions or misleading advertisements directly through the Ayush Suraksha Portal. The reporting process is simple and confidential:

• Visit suraksha.ayush.gov.in and navigate to the reporting section.
• Fill in the Suspected Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form or the Misleading Advertisement Reporting Form.
• Submit the form with details of the medicine, the reaction or advertisement observed, and contact information if desired.
• The nearest Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centre receives the report and forwards it to the concerned Intermediary Centre for causality analysis.
• Final assessment happens at the National Centre, and data is shared with the Ministry of Ayush for regulatory action.

Documents Required

Institutions applying for pharmacovigilance centre status should prepare the following documents: a formal application form along with a detailed concept note outlining the proposed scope of work, an institutional undertaking to follow pharmacovigilance reporting norms regularly, a statement describing current infrastructure and manpower capability, a comprehensive project proposal including budget breakdown, goals, and milestones, an endorsement letter signed by the institutional head, and utilization certificates for any prior government project funding received.

Definitions

Pharmacovigilance

Pharmacovigilance is the ongoing science and activity related to detecting, assessing, understanding, and preventing adverse effects or any other medicine-related problems. It remains the gold standard for long-term safety monitoring beyond the initial product approval phase. For ASU&H drugs, pharmacovigilance helps identify side effects that may only appear after widespread use across diverse populations over extended periods.

References

Click here to view official scheme guidelines (PDF).

Visit the Ayush Suraksha Portal to report adverse drug reactions or misleading advertisements.

FAQ's

What is the primary role of a Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centre?

PPvCs collect and report adverse drug reactions and misleading advertisements from their region. They forward this data to Intermediary Centres and maintain regular communication with the National Centre.

How is the pharmacovigilance system structured?

The system works in three tiers: the National Pharmacovigilance Coordination Centre (NPvCC) at All India Institute of Ayurveda, five Intermediary Pharmacovigilance Centres, and 97 Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centres across the country.

Can any institution apply for funding?

Only institutions recognized under specific medical councils like NCISM, NCH, IMCC, or HCC, or government healthcare units that meet technical and infrastructure requirements may apply for centre status.

Are funds provided annually?

Financial assistance is released in stages based on verified progress reports and audited expenditure statements submitted by the centres.

How can a citizen report a misleading advertisement or adverse drug reaction?

Citizens can visit the Ayush Suraksha Portal at suraksha.ayush.gov.in and fill out the appropriate reporting form. Reports are handled confidentially and routed to the relevant centres for action.