Public health initiatives and Ayush: Projects to policy

Public health is engrossed and a rootstock in Ayurveda and classical literature reflects public health care at every turn. Ayush-public health initiative (PHI) is an all-inclusive approach toward health care and wellness. Starting in 2007–08 as a part of the 11th FYP, “Ayush and Public Health” scheme has hosted 67 PHIs. PHIs serve the public with improved health awareness, disease screening, and interventions. It capacitates Ayush personnel, improves their participation in health care and is a large source of data. It is pivotal in establishing ethnobotanical claims, developing a sustainable health-care ecosystem and emphasizing Ayush’s role in Universal Health Coverage. However, PHIs are limited by multiple factors including the lack of PHI exposure, low diversity of PHIs, and insufficient financial literacy among Ayush personnel. The current review discusses the background, foci of Ayush-PHI, status, and prospects of Ayush-PHI. It also covers the role of Ayush PHI in universal health coverage, challenges, and possible solutions.