Centres of Excellence scheme of the AYUSH Ministry

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A recent evaluation of the Centres of Excellence scheme of the AYUSH Ministry carried by the Centre for Market Research and Social Development (CMRSD), New Delhi has lauded the scheme for its innovative and creative projects that are promoting AYUSH-based healthcare solutions in different parts of the country.

What is the Centres of Excellence(CoE) scheme of the AYUSH Ministry?

Under the CoE Scheme of the Ministry of AYUSH, support is provided to reputed AYUSH institutions for upgrading their functions and facilities to levels of excellence. 

Centres of Excellence

The Centres of Excellence selected under this Scheme are the institutions that engaged in activities like 

• Clinical Research
• AYUSH Healthcare (hospitals)
• Research based on the fundamentals of AYUSH
• Interdisciplinary research in areas like pharmacognosy and pharmacology
• Product development and bridging AYUSH and modern science.

Objectives of the scheme

To support creative and innovative proposals for upgrading both functions and facilities of reputed AYUSH institutions to levels of excellence. 

• Upgrading functions implies adding new long-term functions and making significant qualitative improvements in the existing functions including support for human resources. 
• Upgrading facilities implies adding infrastructure and equipment that will result in a qualitative improvement. 

 Eligibility under the scheme: 

• Government aided Institutions/ Undertaking/Universities/Research Councils, Autonomous Organizations and Non – Profit Non-Governmental organizations engaged in one or more of the above fields listed in the introduction to the scheme.
• The applicants should have a track record of at least -five years of meritorious work in the AYUSH sector specifically in the proposed activity as a Centre of Excellence and should have adequate infrastructure in terms of building, land, equipment and manpower. 
• It should possess adequate land for further expansion of the building and to house the equipment to be purchased from the grant. 
• Purchase of land and vehicle, except ambulance, is not allowed from the grant. 
• The organization should furnish the necessary evidence for its potential in having achieved a level of eminence in the respective field at state level, and further potential to become a Centre of Excellence at the National level, as per the illustrative list placed at Annexure – D of the scheme guidelines. 
• Legal status of the organization: – The organization should be registered under Societies Registration Act / Trust / Companies Act or any other Act. 
• The applicant should have a competent core staff in the field in which the Centre of Excellence is proposed 
• The applicant should have a credible and transparent governing body and management committee consisting of reputed persons. 
• Any institution that has obtained funding from any other scheme of the Department of AYUSH / any other Central Government Ministry / Department for the same purpose in the last five years shall not be eligible for funding under this scheme.
• Applicants shall have to make information available regarding any assistance if ever taken from the Government.

Evaluation by Centre for Market Research and Social Development (CMRSD)

• The evaluation study noted that all the CoEs have credible governance structures and have also raised competent groups of core staff in the fields in which the projects function.
• The evaluation covered 18 Centres of Excellence from 10 different States, including Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Kerala. 
• The purpose of the evaluation exercise was to assess the impact of the CoEs in achieving the objectives of the Scheme, and in assessing challenges, if any, faced by the organization for achieving the standards fixed by the Ministry. 
• The evaluation of the Scheme carried out by CMRSD was based on the Explorative, Descriptive and Analytical-Research approach. 
• Both secondary research and primary research were conducted as part of the evaluation.
• As per the study, the healthcare services provided by these Centres include integrated cancer treatment incorporating Ayurveda solutions, Ayurvedic treatment for conditions like bronchial asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, geriatric care through Regimental Therapy (Ilaj bil tadbeer) of Unani medicine, quality ophthalmologic care through Ayurveda and Homoeopathic care for disability. 
• A major finding was that through the innovative and creative projects taken up by these Centres, they not only promoted AYUSH systems, but also provided health care at quality hospitals having National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation

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