The AYUSH Ministry has announced a framework for funding short-term research projects to analyze the impact of AYUSH interventions or medicines in the standard treatment and clinical management of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19. This framework is a modification of the current Scheme for Extra Mural Research (EMR).
The ministry to evaluate the impact of AYUSH interventions announcement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised practitioners of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Naturopathy) to join in to combat the pandemic.
The Government has invited hospitals and institutions that fall under the extramural research category that manage COVID-19 cases to participate in this scheme. Project proposals with a maximum term of six months with IEC approval would be considered in support of up to Rs. 10 lakhs to meet the expenditure of involving Ayush clinician, technical personnel, laboratory investigations and similar contingency plans. The Ayush Ministry has received over 2,000 proposals over the last few days reporting potential treatments.
