The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to the Centre concerning a petition advocating for the inclusion of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy within the Ayushman Bharat health scheme. The bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and including Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, called for the Centre’s response on this significant plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
The petitioner argues that incorporating these traditional and indigenous medical practices into the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), the insurance component of Ayushman Bharat, would not only make healthcare more accessible and affordable for a larger section of the Indian population but also provide substantial employment opportunities in the field of traditional medicine.
Launched in 2018, Ayushman Bharat is divided into two components: PM-JAY, which offers a cashless health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per below poverty line (BPL) family annually, and Health and Wellness Centres that aim to provide comprehensive health care. However, the current scope of PM-JAY primarily encompasses allopathic treatments and hospitals, with minimal recognition of India’s diverse indigenous healthcare systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy.
The petition highlights these traditional systems not only as a part of India’s rich cultural and intellectual heritage but also as effective healthcare solutions that could address the needs of today’s populace. It criticizes the existing policies, which it claims are remnants of colonial influence, for undermining India’s indigenous scientific knowledge and traditions.
Moreover, the plea alleges that during the era of independence, foreign rulers and individuals with a colonial mindset implemented policies and laws with a profit-oriented approach that significantly eroded India’s cultural and scientific heritage. By incorporating Ayurveda, Yoga, and other indigenous systems into the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the petition seeks to restore and revitalize these traditional practices, ensuring they play a central role in the modern Indian healthcare landscape.
